Mumbai: Things just got worse for Indian hockey. A sting operation by a TV channel caught the Indian Hockey Federation secretary K. Jothikumaran accepting a bribe to include a player in the national men’s team. Jothikumaran resigned late on Monday, hours after the news broke.

The sting by Headlines Today showed the IHF official taking a bribe of Rs2 lakh to include the player Lalit Upadhyay from Banaras in the national team. He also wanted the remaining installment of Rs3 lakh to be delivered to his contact later. The journalists posed as frontmen for a corporate house while meeting Jothikumaran.

The Rs2 lakh was given to him at a five-star hotel in New Delhi in two installments on April 10 and April 11. A few days after receiving the money, Jothikumaran called to say that the player’s name had already been included in the squad for the upcoming Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia and that the list would be sent to the ministry soon. He further gave the assurance that as far he was concerned the player was in, and that it was now just a matter of formalities.

Upadhyay, in fact, was part of the hockey camp recently held in Bangalore but is not part of the team that’s currently in Australia for a four-nation tournament.

Upadhyay, however, has nothing to do with the sting; his name was used just to make the deal look real.

Jothikumaran has been at the helm of the IHF for nearly 15 years.

Despite India's continual dismal showing, he, and his boss KPS Gill, have steadfastly declined to quit.

Gill, when informed about the development, reacted strongly.

"He should step down immediately or I will sack him. The law will take its own course. I am sure he will be punished," the IHF chief told DNA.

"It's shocking. He is not even a member of the selection committee. How can he do something like this? As far as the selection of the team (for the Azlan Shah Cup) goes, it's not yet finalised. I will personally look into it. I am ashamed to say that he was the secretary of IHF, I also feel ashamed to have worked with him for such a long time," Gill added.

Former India player and coach Mir Ranjan Negi said he wasn't surprised.

"The government should step in and take some drastic action," Negi said.

Jothikumaran, who could not be immediately contacted after the news broke out, later denied that he had resorted to any corrupt deals and said he had accepted the money under the impression that it was for a proposal for a big tournament.

Former India captain Pargat Singh said the Indian Olympic Association should immediately take over the Indian Hockey Federation to cleanse the body of "muck".

He also wanted Jothikumaran arrested and a criminal case registered against him.

He also demanded that KPS Gill step down immediately as IHF president.

Source : DNA