BCCI to challenge ruling in Supreme Court

New Delhi: The BCCI on Friday decided to move the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's directive to initiate criminal proceedings against six top officials for filing false affidavits in the Jagmohan Dalmiya expulsion case.

After consulting top lawyers since Wednesday's sensational development, the BCCI has gone through the papers and will move the Supreme Court soon.

"It was an ex parte order and the BCCI officials were not given an opportunity to put across their case. We have decided to move the Supreme Court in this matter," a top BCCI official told PTI.

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed initiation of criminal proceedings against BCCI President Sashank Manohar, former Board President Sharad Pawar and four top officials for filing false affidavits in the 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 CR P C (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.

Soon after the order came out, BCCI officials had a meeting with their team of laywers who have been asked to prepare the case.

The six BCCI officials, against whom criminal proceedings are to be initiated, have been asked not to speak on the issue since the matter was subjudice.

"Since our lawyers are handling the issue, it is better to allow them to do their work and not complicate matters by making public statements", a BCCI official said.

The BCCI is, however, confident that it would come out clean. "What we are confident is that we will be able to bring the proper facts before the honourable court," Pawar had said on Wednesday.

Apart from Pawar and Manohar, the other Board officials were former secretary Niranjan Shah, Ratnakar Shetty (Chief Administrative Officer), N Srinivasan (Secretary) and Chirayu Amin, junior Cricket Committee Chairman.

Anbu.

BCCI officials refuse to comment on HC order

Cricket Board officials on Wednesday refused to comment on the Calcutta High 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.BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said he was not aware of the details and it would not be proper to comment on the issue at this stage.

In a significant development, the Calcutta High Court directed initiation of criminal proceedings against BCCI President Shashank Manohar, former Board President Sharad Pawar and four top officials for filing false affidavits in the 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.

Apart from Pawar and Shah, the other Board officials were Ratnakar Shetty (Chief Administrative Officer), N Srinivasan (Secretary) and Chirayu Amin, junior Cricket Committee Chairman.