Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul Fined Rs 20L Each Over ‘Sexist Comments’ Row

 

New Delhi: India cricketers Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul were on Saturday fined Rs 20 lakh each for their sexist comments on a popular TV show.

In the order published on the official BCCI website, Ombudsman D K Jain said no further action will be taken against the World Cup-bound players, who have already served a provisional suspension and tendered an unconditional apology for their ‘loose’ comments on women.

The Supreme Court-appointed Ombudsman noted that the players had already missed out on earning of about Rs 30 lakh as they were sent back from the tour of Australia.

This fine of Rs 20 lakh each, include a payment of Rs 1 lakh each to “each of the most deserving widows often constables in para-military forces who have lost their lives while on duty, through ‘Bharat Ke Veer App”.

They have also been asked to deposit Rs 10 lakh each in the fund “created by the Cricket Association for the blind”. All payments have to be made within four weeks, the order added.

The controversial episode of ‘Kofee With Karan’ featuring the two cricketers was aired in the first week of January. This had lead to public outrage, prompting the Committee of Administrators (COA) to call the duo back from the Australia tour and handing them provisional suspensions.

The two had tendered unconditional apologies, following which the ban was provisionally lifted. The COA had then handed over the matter to Ombudsman for the completion of inquiry.