Prof Ratnakar Shetty, who sent a legal notice to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) dated June 25 regarding his five-year ban, claimed he's being made a scapegoat in the ticket fiasco.
Shetty, who has served the association as secretary, treasurer and vice-president, was banned by the MCA for his alleged accusations against some office-bearers for being involved in black marketing of 150 tickets of the India vs Pakistan T20 tie last December at Ahmedabad.
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“Shetty has stated (in the legal notice) that since the MCA failed to provide suitable and satisfactory answers, he is being made a scapegoat to cover some irregularities in the association. It was done to keep MCA’s prestige intact,” a source told MiD DAY.
Shetty is also thinking of filing a defamation suit against the MCA. “Shetty is feeling his reputation has been tarnished and he will take appropriate action,” revealed the source.
In the notice, Shetty has demanded withdrawal of the five-year ban and an unconditional apology tendered to him “within 48 hours” of the receipt of the notice.
An MCA official said the association’s president Ravi Savant will reply to Shetty’s notice. He, however, remained non-committal on whether the ban would be overturned.