Bhubaneswar: Subhankar Naik, an accused in deposit collection scam by Ponzi firm Seashore, who has courted controversy after being spotted in the BCCI box during the India-Sri Lanka T20 match at Barabati Stadium on Wednesday, said there was nothing wrong in watching the cricket match.

"I am yet to be convicted and Orissa High Court, while granting me bail, has not debarred me from watching cricket match in stadium. I obtained the complementary pass from one lawyer during my meeting with him over my case matter. As I am cricket frenzy he asked me whether I wanted to watch the match and I agreed. I was not aware whether the complementary pass was for the BCCI box or any other gallery," said Naik in his reaction to The Telegraph.

Naik was spotted in the VVIP gallery, along with wives of four Sri Lankan cricketers and that of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, top-notch bureaucrats and political leaders including ministers. While the Odisha Cricket Association denied of issuing any pass to Naik, Opposition parties continued their demand for an inquiry over the matter.

Congress MLA Prafulla Majhi also demanded an inquiry into the matter. "We suspect Subhankar of getting a pass of the VVIP box either from influential leaders of the ruing party in Cuttcak or from bureaucrats with whom he used to share good rapport. It's unfortunate that an accused like him sat in the gallery among the VVIPs of the state," said Majhi.

BJD MLA from Barabati Debashish Samantaray said: "The association should clarify how an accused obtained a complimentary pass in the gallery meant for the VVIPs."