Deepak Kumar Verma (second from left) addresses the media at Mohan Ahuja stadium in Jamshedpur on Sunday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

The country’s apex shuttlers’ body, Badminton Association of India (BAI),reposed its faith in the state badminton body by granting it provisional recognition on Sunday, thereby putting an end to a row simmering since 2010-end.

The decision in favour of the Deepak Kumar Verma-led Jharkhand Badminton Association (JBA) was based on the findings of a three-member inquiry panel that tabled its report before BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta on September 11, sources claimed.

Gupta had also heard out the JBA and the ad hoc committee headed by Sudhir Deoras earlier this month and relied heavily on the report submitted to him by panel members Abdul Bari Siddiqui, K.N. Jaiswal and Sekhar C. Biswas to decide in favour of JBA.

The probe panel, in its findings, has taken into account events such as the JBA executive committee election on November 28 last year, orders of the high court and IG (registration), formation of the ad hoc committee led by erstwhile JBA president Sudhir Deoras, the nomination of IPS officer Verma as president of JBA and the sacking of Deoras during executive committee meetings held on July 31 and August 18 this year.

The decision by the BAI is not only expected to end an controversy that threatened the future of badminton in the state but would also authorise the state body to carry on day-to-day activities, select state teams and organise championships till further notice.

Addressing the media at the Mohan Ahuja Stadium on Sunday afternoon, JAP inspector-general Verma said that the probe was impartial and had taken all facets into consideration before declaring the ad hoc committee unconstitutional based on the judgment of Jharkhand High Court. He, however, stressed that all meetings called by JBA secretary K. Prabhakar Rao were as per the constitution and supported by a majority.

A relieved Verma said he would do whatever it took to develop the game in Jharkhand. “There will be no prejudice or malice against anybody,” he promised. The IPS officer later chaired an executive committee meeting at the same venue attended by all 13 affiliated districts of the state body.