SAI director has maligned my image: Joydeep Karmakar

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Olympian Joydeep Karmakar alleges SAI Director of maligning him. Image Source: news18.com

Internet Desk: Olympian shooter Joydeep Karmakar on Tuesday said that he felt “maligned” at Sports Authority of India (SAI) regional director Manmeet Singh Goindi’s recent comments about him not settling the bills for his academy at the SAI  training centre.

“Full payment has been made one month in advance. But then when the regional director comes out and says he has not recieved rent, it’s absurd,” Karmakar told mediapersons at a press conference he called to clear the air.

“I don’t know whether he is trying to malign my image. But on November 29 we settled an amount of Rs 1,44,430 within two days of recieving a mail from SAI.”

“Till date there is no contract from SAI. Intially there were charging Rs 150 for entry from every student per year. All of a sudden it became Rs 750 per month. Look at the difference in amount,” Karmakar alleged.

Karmakar, who finished fourth in 50 metres rifle prone event in London Olympics 2012, had opened a shooting academy in association with the SAI Eastern Centre last year on the same date.

A year after, Goindi, few days back said the 37-year-old has not paid a single penny for his venture and that being a railways employee he needs to produce a No objection Certificate (NoC) to run a private academy.

Refuting the claim, Karmakar said, “I am an employee of Indian Railways and as per the Indian Railway Services (Conduct) Rules 1966 page 14 point 2, I may, without or without prior permission of the Government take part in the registration, promotion or management (not involving or holding of an effective office) of a literary scientific or charitable society or of a club or similar organisation the aims or objects of which relate to promotion of sports, cultural or recreational activities.”

Karmakar said that Goindi, being the regional director of SAI, does not endorse sports as his allegations hampared preparations for the shooting nationals.