‘BCCI probe a witch hunt’
New Delhi, July 26: The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s probe into the financial irregularities allegedly committed by the IPL chairman Lalit Modi shifts to the capital on Tuesday when the disciplinary committee meets for the second time this fortnight.
Since Modi was granted legal leeway — the choice of being represented by lawyers —in the first meet of the three-member panel in Mumbai on July 16, he’ll be absent on Tuesday too.
The exception was made after Modi’s second counsel Venkatesh Dhond explained that the charges against the administrator were of a serious nature and complex legal issues were involved, particularly in relation to interpretation of contract documents.
The panel later said it had heeded Modi’s request.
“In view of the complex nature of certain issues involved, interpretation of documents required, and additionally that one of us on the committee has a legal background, we feel that it would be just and fair that Mr Modi be allowed to be represented through a lawyer in the enquiry,” the committee said in a release.
However, the exception made for Modi also means that the panel comprising of BCCI vice president Arun Jaitley, IPL interim chief Chirayu Amin and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia too will have legal counsel at their disposal, who can potentially be used to step up the pace of the enquiry.
The disciplinary committee has till late October to file their report, but with the board’s AGM in just over a month’s time, there is pressure on the committee to file the report so that a decision can be taken before a change of guard takes place at the top.
Modi, meanwhile, has been pressing for the recusal of both Jaitley and Amin, contending that being board office-bearers they would be biased against him during the proceedings.
Even though the Bombay high court has rejected his petition for the reconstitution of the panel, the disciplinary committee has agreed to consider his request.
Modi sent documents to the board on July 20 against both Amin and Jaitely, but isn’t confident of a favourable outcome. “Those concerned should be guardians of justice and the sport... if this is not a witch hunt, what is,” Modi said on his Twitter page on Monday.
The final decision on the recusal issue will be taken on Tuesday, and an unfavourable decision then will limit Modi’s options to challenge the board again.
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