FIR lodged against Cricket Association of Bengal

Kolkata, Tue, Mar 16 2010 (PTI) - The West Bengal government and the state cricket body today locked horns over a temporary VIP gallery at Eden Gardens with an FIR being lodged against Cricket Association of Bengal for allegedly violating fire norms by using the structure during an IPL match.

The FIR was filed by the West Bengal Fire Services department for not having its sanction and for alleged violation of fire services rules at the temporary, newly-constructed gallery with a seating capacity of 400.

The CAB, however, maintained that no permission of the fire services department was required.

Fire Services minister Pratim Pratim Chatterjee accused CAB President Jagmohan Dalmiya of defying fire regulations in using the temporary gallery during the match.

Sharukh Khan, cricketer Brian Lara and Katrina Kaif had watched the Kolkata vs Bangalore encounter from the gallery.

"CAB has shown little respect for government rules and regulations at the Eden Gardens where the temporary gallery did not have sanction of the Fire Services department," Chatterjee told reporters.

The minister said he will not bow to any pressure. "I am ready to quit if no action is taken against CAB."

CAB Joint Secretary Biswarup De, however, said the Fire services minister's move was "baseless and logically, legally and ethically incorrect and it involves the prestige of Kolkata."

Seeking the intervention of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Sports Minister Kanti Ganguly, De said "CAB is not the government that it will do everything and if the government does not want it, IPL matches should be shifted from Kolkata.

"There had been occasional obstructions to holding matches in Eden Gardens, though the CAB has been doing its best," the CAB official said.

CAB President Jagmohan Dalmiya was not available for comment.

Chatterjee later told PTI that the Kolkata team's co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan spoke to him over phone and expressed regret over the issue.

"Shah Rukh assured me that he will ensure that fire safety rules are strictly enforced in the gallery which will be erected afresh before tomorrow's IPL match at the Eden," he said.

Chatterjee said he had reminded Khan about the devastating fire that had ravaged the Upahaar cinema hall in Delhi a few years ago.

The PWD had asked for some modifications to the temporary gallery for obtaining a no-objection-certificate.

The gallery, in between the under-construction Block B and the club house, is made of wood.

Chatterjee also claimed that Shahrukh Khan expressed surprise as to how CAB could allow such a temporary structure to be used for an IPL match. "But I have nothing against Sharukh Khan. I want him to hold the match here."

State PWD sources said that a team of its officials would visit the gallery on March 17 to ensure that rules and regulations had been complied with.