Lalit Modi’s Petition Against BCCI Dismissed By Bombay High Court
Lalit Modi, the suspended Indian Premier League chief has lost the backing of the Bombay High Court as they dismissed his petition against the Board of Control for Cricket in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 (BCCI).
Modi had requested that the High Court quash the BCCI’s proceedings against him and appoint an independent panel to decide his case. The High Court made their decision after hearing arguments from both sides, which came as a big blow to Modi who will now have to appear at the BCCI’s disciplinary committee meeting, which will be held tomorrow in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820.
It will be decided at the meeting what course of action the BCCI plans to take against Modi, whose lawyer still claims Modi might not attend the meeting.
Modi’s lawyer, Mehmood Abdi told reporters that Modi was still not certain about attending the disciplinary committee metting. Abdi revealed that even though the High Court had dismissed Modi’s petition, the division bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and Roshan Dalvi had been left with the responsibility of choosing the disciplinary committee and it is fully expected for the BCCI to consider the request for a recusal at the disciplinary meeting tomorrow.
“The High Court has put the ball in the court of the BCCI. The BCCI will consider the demand for recusal at the [disciplinary committee] meeting tomorrow.” Abdi said.
Among his other demands, Modi has demanded that Chirayu Amin, the interim IPL chief from the panel should review his case. Modi’s reasons for the request of the removal of Amin is the apparent grudge Amin holds against him, for revealing his failed bid for a new IPL franchise.
Modi’s lawyer was not happy with the other members on the panel, saying that Arun Jaitley should also be removed because he had voted against Modi at the special board meeting, held earlier this month. Jyotiraditya Scindia is the third member of the panel, and so far there have been no complaints against him.
The Indian Premier League suspended Modi over financial irregularities relating to the bidding process for the franchises, the illegal sale of theatrical rights and conspiring to set up a rebel league in England.
Farooq Abdullah, the IPL governing council member revealed at the start of June that major irregularities had been committed by Modi. There was proof that Modi had influenced the inclusion of Kochi and Pune franchises in the IPL. “We hope that people would come to know much more as to what has transpired in various things. How various franchisees were added and how irregularities were done.” Abdullah had said.
But Modi, who is currently being investigated by tax officials, has not admitted to anything, denying all allegations. Since his suspension, Modi has accused the panel of the disciplinary committee of having biased feelings against him, demanding a recusal.
When the request for recusal was denied, he filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, and now that the petition has been dismissed, Modi has no choice but to appear at the disciplinary committee meeting. The BCCI welcomed the court order, but Abdi wasn’t too thrilled. He remained hopeful though, “It is not a setback. The certified copy of the order will be with us by the end of day or early tomorrow morning and only then we will be able to plan our next step. I cannot comment on our strategy and further plan at the moment. Give us time to think about the next step we have to take.”
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