From Our Special Correspondet
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 23: The Manohar Parrikar-led government today accepted the recommendations of Justice (Rtd) M L Pendse commission, which had alleged criminal conspiracy by Goa Cricket Association (GCA) managing committee members by printing bogus tickets for the 2001 One Day International cricket match held between India-Australia in Goa.

The commission’s report, submitted in the year 2001 itself, was rejected by erstwhile Pratapsingh Rane government in the year 2005, apparently as it indicted one of its ministers Dayanand Narvekar, who was also then GCA president.

Parrikar told reporters today that the state cabinet, which met in the afternoon, has decided to `accept the recommendations of Pendse Commission’.

“You cannot allow criminals to go scot-free,” Parrikar said referring to the melee that preceded the one day match held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, 30 kms away from here.

Several bogus tickets were sold for the match resulting in the chaos on the main gate forcing the police to cane-charge the cricket fans, many of whom were having genuine tickets purchased for the crucial match of the India-Australia series.

Parrikar said that the state government will implement the recommendations of the commission. “Some issues pointed out in the commission which was set up in the year 2001 are now redundant,” he said, adding that many issues like criminal conspiracy by GCA members, which is pointed out in the commission’s findings, has been dealt by the police.

“Government has already formed a committee to study the financial irregularities in GCA, which was also one of the recommendations by the commission,” the chief minister pointed out.

The commission in its report had indicted several GCA members including then chief Narvekar and current president Vinod Fadke. Secretive printing and circulation of bogus tickets, which were far in access to the stadium’s capacity, was blamed for the chaos.