Mumbai Cricket Association President Ravi Savant "is in the midst of a growing controversy" as some members have alleged that he has "allotted a contract to a software company without calling for a tender," according to Vijay Tagore of the MUMBAI MIRROR. The software company is a Mumbai-based franchise of an American firm, and "is linked to a family member of the MCA president." The company, after initially quoting a figure of Rs 12 lakh ($18,900), has ended up charging the association Rs 23 lakh ($36,200). The mandate for the company "was to design software" for the Kanga League and Plate League. The designed program "would take care of the schedule and management the event." According to MCA members, Savant "did not consult any office-bearer, leave alone the members of the managing committee, before awarding the contract." Even the two joint secretaries "were not consulted." However, Savant "defended the deal strongly," stating that the final payment "will be made only after the programme is independently verified by an I-T expert." Savant: "We'll not make the final payment till it is independently certified. Having said, that I must state that it is a mischievous campaign to malign me. It is an election-year stunt" (MUMBAI MIRROR, 9/17).
