The protsts against the Bangalore-organisation have been led by national table tennis champion, Pradeep Raj, who claimed that the PCI's attitude towards them is "insulting".

Raj, who is the general secretary of the Association for Disabled People and the Paralympic Table Tennis Federation of India, said: "The PCI members do not understand the needs of the disabled and do not pass on the funds to us."

He claimed that training camps are organised without equipment or qualified coaches.

Javed Habib, the director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for the Disabled, accused the PCI officials of abusing Government funds which are hampering India's preparations for this year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Habib said: "It’s not that the funds are not provided [by the Government].

"We have records that show [that funds] were given to the PCI in the last three years.

"Yet, India has withdrawn from four of the 15 events marked for the disabled in the Commonwealth Games.

"The reason they give is they don’t have funds to buy special wheelchairs used in some disciplines."

Habib said that he had given the Sports Ministry a 48-hour deadline to suspend the PCI or threatened they would take legal action.

He said: "Such an attitude towards disabled athletes is outright cruel.

"We demand a detailed enquiry on all the mismanagement and corruption against the PCI which is increasing day by day.

"The funding given by the Government to the PCI should be stopped immediately as it is not used in a proper way.

"The Sports Authority of India (SAI) must take action against PCI officials.

"The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has been silent on the issue despite several reminders and letters."