Chennai, Jan 8 (IANS): The All India Chess Federation (AICF) faction, led by Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan, on Wednesday announced the appointment of Calcutta High Court's former Chief Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya to look into the affairs of Bengal Chess Association (BCA).

Announcing the development, AICF Joint Secretary Naresh Sharma, in a statement, said acting upon the decisions taken at the general body meeting in Bhopal on December 28, 2019, the AICF has appointed Justice Bhattacharya to look into the affairs of BCA and submit a report.

In the statement, Sharma cited the various allegations made by Grand Master (GM) Dibyendu Barua against BCA Secretary Atanu Lahiri and also the Sports Authority of India (SAI) finding that the Utilisation Certificate furnished by BCA for National Sub-Junior Chess Championship 2018 was forged.

"The AICF general body had taken a strong note of especially the second finding and a motion for a thorough probe in the matter was passed," he said.

The AICF has now filed a FIR in the case as per the decision taken in the general body meeting and has also requested the SAI to do a forensic check by a government agency on the alleged Utilisation Certificate.

The AICF is split into two factions - one led by its President P.R.Venketrama Raja and the other by Secretary Chauhan.

Interestingly, on December 31, 2019, Raja, in an office order, announced the formation of three member committee comprising of himself, Chauhan and Treasurer Kishor M Bandekar to administer the day-to-day functions of AICF.

According to the Office Order Chauhan or Bandekar shall not carry out any transaction or decide on any matters unless the same is approved by this three member committee.