Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul fined Rs 20 lakh each for Koffee with Karan row

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Ombudsman DK Jain on Saturday directed Hardik Pandya and opener KL Rahul to donate a sum of Rs 1 lakh each, to widows of 10 constables in paramilitary forces who have lost their lives on duty. The duo have to pay the fine as a punishment for the sexist comments they made on Karan Johar's TV show Koffee with Karan.

Hardik and Rahul have also been asked to pay Rs 10 lakh each in the fund created by Cricket Association for the blind, for promotion of game for the blind within 4 weeks.

The Ombudsman has also said that if both the players fail to do so within four weeks from the date of the receipt of the order, the Board of Control for Cricket in India might deduct the said amount from the match fees payable to the players.

BCCI Ombudsman directs KL Rahul & Hardik Pandya to pay Rs1,00,000 each to families of 10 constables in para-military forces who have lost their lives on duty & Rs 10,00,000 in the fund created by Cricket Association for the blind,for promotion of game for the blind,within 4 weeks https://t.co/Ju7Zgvwsit ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2019

The Ombudsman noted that the players had already missed out on earning of about Rs 30 lakh as they had been sent back from the tour of Australia. But he also noted that cricketers in the country are role models and their act should be befitting the status they have acquired.

But he also noted that since both the players apologised and did not contest the action initiated against them, it is unnecessary to return a categorical finding as to whether the remarks made during the course of the chat show constitutes as an act of indiscipline or misconduct or violation of any of Rules and Regulations on part of players as contemplated under Rule 41 (1) (c) of the rules.

Clearly, the matter ends with this and the two cricketers can now look forward to representing the country with aplomb in the upcoming World Cup in England and Wales as the national selectors have picked the duo in the 15-member squad.

The controversial episode was aired in the first week of January, triggering outrage, which prompted the COA to call the duo back from the tour of Australia, handing them provisional suspensions.

The two tendered unconditional apologies and their ban was provisionally lifted pending inquiry. Once Jain assumed his role, the COA handed over the matter to Ombudsman for the completion of inquiry.

The two players have also spoken publicly on the incident, recalling one of the toughest phases of their respective careers.