Kolkata, November 12
The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed initiation of criminal proceedings against Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sashank Manohar, former board president Sharad Pawar and four top officials for filing false affidavits in the Jagmohan Dalmiya expulsion case.
Justice Nadira Pathariya passed the order eight months after Dalmiya, a former BCCI president, moved a case of perjury against Pawar and Board officials and prayed for criminal proceedings against them for allegedly producing false documents in court.
The court passed the ex parte order and directed the Registrar (Original side) to initiate criminal proceedings under section 195 of CrPC (prosecution for contempt of lawful authority of public servants for offences against public justice and for offences relating to documents given in evidence), at an appropriate court.
The court then reserved its judgment. The other Board officials were Ratnakar Shetty (chief administrative officer), Niranjan Shah (former secretary), N Srinivasan (secretary) and Chirayu Amin, junior cricket committee chairman.
New Delhi: BCCI officials refused to comment on the court’s directive to initiate criminal proceedings against six top officials for filing false affidavits in the Jagmohan Dalmiya expulsion case, saying their lawyers were handling the issue.
“I don’t know what is the exact decision. Just now I am hearing that such a decision is given by the court. So, unless and until I see the papers, consult our lawyers, I will not be able to answer”, former BCCI president Sharad Pawar, who is among the six against whom criminal proceedings would be initiated, said.
“What we are confident is that we will be able to bring the proper facts before the honourable court”, Pawar said. Asked specifically whether the affidavits were right or wrong, Pawar shot back “How can I tell you? It’s not my affidavit, I don’t know what affidavit you are referring to”.
Former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, who also faces criminal proceedings, echoed a similar view. “We have heard about the development. The BCCI lawyers will handle the issue”, Shah said. — PTI
