Facing a life ban from the BCCI, former IPl Commissioner lalit Modi has emerged the winner in the recently held elections for the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA).
This fact was disclosed by the BCCI in the Supreme Court on Monday though it requested the SC to defer the announcement of the result as it would jeopardise the future of the RCA and its players in Team India. The court agreed not to open the sealed cover containing the result till March 4.
Senior advocate CA Sundaram, counsel for the BCCI, informed the court that since Modi faced a life ban, he was not eligible to contest elections. It sought to be heard on this point as it contended that the BCCI would consider de-recognising RCA under him. As a consequence, he added, that the players from RCA currently playing in the Indian squad would be dropped. “If RCA gets disqualified, players coming from that region cannot be part of the (national) team,” he said. Currently, there are two players from Rajasthan in the Indian team.
Sundaram requested the court to hear all parties on March 4 before the formal announcement of results due to the consequences that were bound to follow. The BCCI had opposed decision by Justice Kasliwal to allow Modi to contest. His rival candidate Rampal Sharma had raised objection citing his life ban.
The bench of Justices AR Dave and JS Khehar had proposed to open the results. It said, “If Modi has lost then there is no need for the sound and fury from the Board. But, if he has won then we will hear all parties.”
The court was of the view that once results were announced, the BCCI was free to decide future course of action.
The victory of Modi in the RCA polls came as a jolt to BCCI which has slapped a life ban on him following allegations that he misappropriated $80 million during the IPl T20 tournament.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, who represented Modi, said, “Srinivasan (BCCI president) has a big ego issue against Modi. He (Srinivasan) cannot take it that a man whom he engineered to expel has now rubbed his nose on the ground in the RCA elections,” Salve said.
In response, Sundaram retorted that Modi was not fit to even contest polls after having brought shame to the game.
The result that Modi has won, although out in open, would continue to remain under wraps till March 4. But pained by the charges and counter-charges from both sides, the bench remarked, “Cricket has been ruined by politics.” It was of the view that persons who hold posts in cricket boards and associations must be players who have at least Ranji Trophy experience.