SHILLONG, June 29: Former Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) president Naba Bhattacharjee has strongly rejected allegations that he failed to act on sexual harassment complaints filed by members of the Under-23 women’s cricket team, asserting that the complaints were never brought to his notice.
Responding to statements by current MCA president James P.K. Sangma, Bhattacharjee said he had informed the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) during a hearing on May 26 that the complaints, allegedly received through the MCA’s official email on December 3, 2025, were never placed before him prior to the MCA elections on December 19, 2025, or the formal handover of charge on January 13, 2026.
“Had the matter been brought to my notice even in the last hour of my tenure, an emergency Apex Council meeting would have been convened to address the issue and initiate necessary action,” he said.
Bhattacharjee described Sangma’s remarks as “prejudiced and biased” and clarified that he rarely accessed the MCA’s official email account, which was primarily handled by office staff and other officials. He also questioned what action was taken after the players approached the MSCW on May 3, 2026, noting that he no longer held any position in the association by then.
The statement comes in the wake of the MSCW holding Bhattacharjee and other former office-bearers responsible for institutional lapses. The Commission had criticised the MCA for failing to act on the complaints against former coach Hemant Roy and assistant manager Sanjay Mondal and for not establishing the mandatory Internal Complaints Committee under the POSH Act.
Sangma had earlier stated that while the MCA no longer had jurisdiction over Bhattacharjee, the state government should decide whether he should continue in any government-appointed advisory roles, citing serious failures in protecting women players.
