New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) seven state associations have demanded suspension of Board CEO Rahul Johri pending an inquiry into an anonymous allegation of sexual harassment against him.

"Seven affiliated state units comprising Saurashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa today wrote separately to the Committee Of Administrators (COA) demanding CEO Rahul Johri's suspension pending inquiry. Now the ball is in Vinod Rai's court," a former BCCI office-bearer and a board veteran told PTI on condition of anonymity.

Also read: CoA forms independent panel for 'transparent inquiry' against Rahul Johri

It is learnt that Johri has submitted his explanation to the show cause notice served by the COA after an anonymous account of alleged sexual harassment came up against him on social media. The accuser, who is yet to reveal her identity, claims to be an ex-colleague of Johri during his stint with the Discovery channel.

Repeated calls to Johri on the latest development went unanswered.

The BCCI official, who has worked closely with Johri earlier, feels that BCCI is not doing any good by "hushing up" the matter.

On Thursday night, the Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) constituted a three-member independent panel to conduct an inquiry. Johri continues to be on leave.

(With inputs from PTI)