Referee Ram Kumar Upadhyay has threatened to file a defamation suit against senior office-bearers of Jharkhand State Basketball Association (JSBA), demanding the resignation of its president and secretary for suspending him without giving him an opportunity to explain.

"I was suspended on September 25 last year for alleged misbehaviour during the 16th Sub-junior Basketball Championship in Dhanbad. The state association waited for over three months before serving me a notice (on January 8, 2017) to appear before an inquiry committee to explain my side," Upadhyay, a former national player and an ASI with Jharkhand police, said.

"It is an insult that the JSBA suspends me first and then seeks my explanation. I will file a defamation suit against R. S. Chahal (president) and Harbajan Singh (secretary)," he added.

JSBA, which formed a three-member probe panel on November 16 last year comprising Upender Mishra, Santosh Kumar Singh and Kallol Samanta, did not begin probe. The panel asked Upadhyay to appear before it on January 23, but he did not present himself.

Upadhyay said he felt victimised by JSBA secretary Singh. "Why should I appear before a panel when I have been suspended without being heard?" he said.

JSBA alleged Upadhyay misbehaved with secretary Singh during the state sub-junior meet in Dhanbad last September and fielded a referee to conduct a match without permission from authorities.

"I admit I fielded a referee without permission, but I never misbehaved. I fielded the referee as there were few of them to conduct matches. The JSBA president is a busy man and is guided by Singh, who has made the state outfit his fiefdom," Upadhyay alleged.

JSBA secretary Singh, a former Olympian, was vague on why a showcause wasn't served on Upadhyay before suspension but said the suspension would not be revoked. "He failed to appear before the probe panel. Indiscipline will not be tolerated," he declared.