High Court Seeks Response From "Rajasthan Royals" Over Dues Owed To Police Dept

The direction was issued on a suo moto case registered in April 2019, on the basis of a newspaper report published in Dainik Bhaskar, revealing that 850 to 980 police officials were deployed, including 18 senior officers belonging to the cadre of Rajasthan Police Services and 52 Inspectors, on the day the IPL match was held. The report stated that an amount of more than 6.99 Crore, due to the police force, has not been paid by the sponsors of IPL who earn huge revenue by holding the matches.

In furtherance, the Court had issued a show cause notice, as to why a writ in the nature of mandamus be not issued directing the Police Department to recover the outstanding amount due from the sponsors and organisers of IPL matches. The Court had also issued notices to the State of Rajasthan, Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"Police officials work day and night to maintain law and order. While deciding criminal appeals, we find that investigation of criminal cases pertaining to murder and rape is not upto mark and is of not very high standard as the same ought to be. One of the reason as to why investigation is lacking is that unnecessarily members of Rajasthan police force which is a premier agency are deployed for the duties which are not primarily part of policing," the High Court had observed.

Notably, the court had also remarked that the Indian Premier League (IPL), more than promoting cricket as a game, is a source of earning revenue. The court had added that different voices have been often raised that IPL is more an entertainment extravaganza and it has failed to promote the game of cricket.

On April 28, the Court made Rajasthan Royals a party to the proceedings on being informed by the Counsels that the liability to pay an outstanding amount of Rs.3,28,36,753/- is on the franchise. Furthermore, the Court was also informed that a total amount which was payable to the State under agreement with the franchise was Rs. 6,98,86,753/- out of which, as per the State's reply, Rs.3,70,50,000/- has already been paid.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sameer Jain on May 25 observed,

"Though office report shows that respondent No.4 has not been served, learned counsel Mr. Siddharth Ranka entered appearance on behalf of respondent No.4. Copy of petition be supplied to him within a week. Reply be filed within four weeks."

The court has listed the matter after four weeks.

Adv. Abhishek Sharma appeared for the petitioner while AAG S.S. Raghav, Adv. Siddharth Ranka, Adv. Prateek Kasliwal with Adv. Gauri Jasana, Adv. Tanmay Mangal and Adv. Mr. Angad Mirdha appeared for the respondents.

Case Title: Suo Motu v. State Of Rajasthan