Shillong : Former Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) president Naba Bhattacharjee has strongly refuted remarks made by Cabinet Minister James Sangma regarding his indictment by the Meghalaya State Women’s Commission (MSWC) in connection with the alleged sexual harassment of the state’s U-23 women cricketers.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bhattacharjee described Sangma’s comments as “prejudiced and biased” and maintained that he had fully cooperated with the Commission during its inquiry.
“I would like to strongly rebut his statement which is prejudiced and biased,” Bhattacharjee said.
He stated that he appeared before the MSWC on May 26, 2026, after being summoned and insisted that the complaint filed by the U-23 women cricketers was never brought to his attention during his tenure as MCA president.
According to Bhattacharjee, although the complaint was reportedly filed on December 3, 2025, none of the MCA office-bearers informed him about it before the election of the new Apex Council on December 19, 2025, or before the formal handover of responsibilities on January 13, 2026.
“The complaint by the U-23 cricketers was never brought to my notice by any MCA official. Even before I demitted office, this matter was never placed before me,” he said.
Bhattacharjee asserted that had he been informed, he would have immediately convened an emergency meeting of the Apex Council to address the allegations and initiate action in accordance with the law.
He also clarified that he did not regularly access the MCA’s official email account, explaining that official correspondence was generally handled by office staff and other officials responsible for day-to-day administration.
“My statement regarding access to the MCA official email was clear and unambiguous. Normally, as President, I hardly accessed the official email, which was attended to by regular office staff and officials,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the Meghalaya State Women’s Commission, Bhattacharjee appealed to the Commission to review his statement and supporting documents.
“I still have full faith in the impartial adjudication of the MSWC and appeal to the Commission to once again review my statement and the supporting documents,” he said.
He also questioned what action had been taken after he left office, noting that the women cricketers approached the MSWC only on May 3, 2026, several months after the new MCA leadership had assumed charge.
“I was not holding any office in the MCA after December 19, 2025, or after the formal handover on January 13, 2026. What action was initiated during that period until the women approached the MSWC?” he asked.
Concluding his statement, Bhattacharjee categorically denied any failure on his part to act on the complaint.
“I strongly deny any suggestion that I failed to act on a complaint that was never placed before me. Any statement implying otherwise is factually incorrect, misleading and prejudicial,” he said.