Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) today announced that it had constituted a five-member Ad Hoc Committee to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Odisha Gymnastics Association (OGA) and conduct a thorough inquiry into the matters raised.

“The Committee will also initiate the process for conducting elections of the OGA in accordance with the National Sports Code, within the next three to four months,” stated OOA in a press release.

The Ad Hoc Committee features OOA vice-president Binod Dash as chairman, along with OOA treasurer Rabi Sankar Pratihari, Bhubaneswar Athletics Association secretary Sourya Ranjan Parija, former international gymnast Ramesh Chandra Behera and international gymnastics judge Pradip Kumar Sahoo as members.

According to the press release, the OOA had taken note of the issues and concerns highlighted in various media reports regarding the affairs of the OGA. “In view of the prevailing situation, and following a request received from the secretary of OGA, seeking intervention over the ongoing matters, the OOA has decided to constitute an Ad Hoc Committee to oversee the functioning of the OGA,” the release added.

Alleged to have been involved in corrupt practices for around 25 years, OGA was widely exposed as it used the name of its deceased president Samir Dey for seeking funds from the state government for hosting the Junior & Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championship at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar from 25 April to 3 May 2026.

The alleged fraudulent activities of OGA came to light when a whistleblower, in the name of Balunkeswar Sahoo, made it public, a complaint letter he sent to the commissioner-cum-secretary of the Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, on 26 May 2026.

In his complaint letter, Sahoo questioned how OGA managed to secure nearly Rs 98 lakh from the State Government for the 2026 National Gymnastics Championships even as invoices of more than Rs 1.96-crore, and the official documents, bearing the signature of OGA general secretary Ashok Sahoo, continued to carry the name of late Samir Dey, a BJP leader and former minister in the previous Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, who died in November 2024, as president.

When caught off-guard with the proof, OGA secretary Sahoo resorted to a damage-control method, releasing an official clarification that the use of the name of Samir Dey occurred due to ‘oversight’. “Dhiren Panda is currently functioning as the in-charge of the association. We have not printed fresh letterheads yet,” said Sahoo, who has been holding to his post for nearly a quarter century.

In his letter, whistleblower Sahoo also raised questions over how multiple agencies sanctioned funds for the National championship. Documents attached with the complaint show that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) had sanctioned Rs 50 lakh to the Gymnastics Federation of India for hosting the National championships. The OGA had requested the GFI to sanction Rs 25 lakh for the event and the request letter had Dey listed as the president of OGA, although it was signed by secretary Sahoo.

With DSYS remaining tight-lipped, the issue has assumed greater significance. Knowledgeable sources believe that the top brass of the DSYS is also involved in the dubious financial deal. “How come the DSYS sanctioned such a large amount of financial support to OGA when it was widely known that the State body was involved in fraudulent activities,” asked a former international gymnast.

Observers of Odisha sports also believe that the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee by the OOA is nothing but another damage-control plan. “We have seen such ploys earlier in cricket and badminton. After a few months people will forget the issue and things will be normal,’’ said a gymnastics coach, who did not want to be named.

A technical official of the sport also questioned the basis on which the OAA picked the chairperson and members of the Ad Hoc Committee. “Binod Das was also the chairperson of a committee that OOA constituted to inquire into the allegations of corruption against Orissa State Badminton Association. No action has been taken against OSBA yet,” he alleged.

“Three among the four members of the OOA Ad Hoc Committee belong to the same place and two of them are associated with a particular training-cum-coaching centre. The track records of the duo are not clean. How come these people were chosen for the Ad Hoc Committee, ignoring gymnastics personalities with integrity and high reputation?,” wondered a former international gymnast.
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PHOTO: Odisha Gymnastics Association secretary Ashok Sahoo (1st from left) with DSYS officials at a press conference for the National championship in Bhubaneswar.