The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday moved the Supreme Court to restrain the former Indian Premier League Commissioner, Lalit Modi, from becoming president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), says a report in The Hindu, adding that for, “any association of Mr. Modi with RCA will affect the image of BCCI”
His nomination was incorrect as the RCA rejected the BCCI’s objections to his candidature, said the Board, which wants to implead itself in a petition — which comes up for further hearing on January 6 — filed by the former BCCI treasurer, Kishore Rungta, against Mr. Modi. Like Mr. Rungta, the BCCI also challenged the Rajasthan Sports Act, which enabled Mr. Modi to contest the RCA elections on December 19, 2013.
In its petition, the BCCI said that at the time of the elections it wrote to the RCA, warning it of suspension if Mr. Modi was allowed to contest as he had been banned for life from all cricketing activities in India after having been found guilty of financial bungling during his tenure as IPL Commissioner. However, the court-appointed observer, Justice N.M. Kasliwal, cleared his nomination. The results are due on January 6.
According to Zee news, the RCA elections were held on December 19 and if reports are to believed then Modi along with his group are expected to win by the time the court comes out with its verdict by next week.
In September 2013, a life-ban was imposed by BCCI on Modi accusing him of causing financial irregularities during his tenure as the IPL commissioner.
In 2005, Modi was elected as RCA president when BJP`s Vasundhara Raje was Rajasthan Chief Minister. Interestingly, Raje is again back in control after BJP swept the recent Rajasthan Assembly elections but the incumbent RCA president CP Joshi and BCCI are trying hard to stop Modi from returning to cricket administration.
