Reserving Verdict, SC Hints At Tough Orders Against BCCI, Anurag Thakur

The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict on the plea by Lodha panel for removing the entire top brass of the BCCI and replace it with an administrator after slamming the Board for its continued defiance and also pulling up its President Anurag Thakur for trying to seek the help of ICC chief  for non-implementation of the recommendations.

The bench headed by chief justice T S Thakur hinted it might not immediately oust entire top brass of the Board and appoint an administrator for continued defiance of Lodha reforms but impose certain conditions which will severely impinge its financial autonomy.

Till the reforms are implemented or the Board gives an “unequivocal undertaking” in this regard, the Lodha panel could be asked to vet all its big financial dealings including disbursement of funds to state associations and signing of contracts.

Though most top BCCI bosses are expected to get a reprieve for now, sword still hangs over its President Anurag Thakur.

During a high-voltage hearing in a jam packed courtroom, the bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur slammed Anurag Thakur  for attempts to take the help of the ICC boss in wriggling out of the Lodha reforms saying “From the records it is clear that you as president of BCCI asked for a letter to set up a situation for non-compliance of court orders. If it was attempt to deliberately obstruct our judgment, it has to be viewed seriously”

Anurag Thakur was being questioned if he had asked David Richardson, ICC CEO to state that the appointment of  a CAG as a member of the Board as per the directions of the Lodha Committee was tantamount to government interference in the working of the BCCI and result in de-recognition of the Board by the ICC

Through an affidavit, Anurag Thakur tried to clarify that he had not asked Richardson to write a letter but only sought a clarification from ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar on if he still stood by his earlier stand (as president of BCCI) that CAG appointment would result in governmental interference and de-recognition of Board by ICC. But the SC was not convinced.

The court had on October 7 cracked the whip on the cash-rich BCCI, and restrained it from disbursing extra funds to 25  State associations  till they accepted the Justice Lodha Committee reforms in “letter and spirit” and informed the same to the panel and to apex court bench hearing the matter.

Passing a short order, CJI Thakur  ruled that BCCI shall not  disburse Rs 16.73 crore each to 13 State associations as per a decision taken in the Special General Meeting (SGM) on September 30. These 13 associations are yet to receive their share of a pay-off made by a private sport channel to the BCCI regards the broadcasting rights of the Champions Trophy and T20 tournaments.

The CJI said the pending Rs. 16.73 crore and any future funds would be released to them only after they passed a resolution to undertake to comply with the Lodha reforms and filed affidavits before both the Lodha panel and the Supreme Court attaching copies of such a resolution.

As far as the remaining 12 State associations are concerned, the Supreme Court barred them from using the Rs. 16.73 crore already disbursed to them by the BCCI on September 30 until they filed a resolution to implement the Lodha Committee reforms, followed by affidavits in the Supreme Court and the Lodha Committee.

In case the dozen associations continue to resist the Lodha reforms, the money disbursed to them would be invested in fixed deposit accounts until they change their minds, said the court.

This article has been made possible because of financial support from Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation.