The Supreme Court today sacked BCCI President Anurag Thakur for continued defiance regarding implementation of Lodha panel reforms and issued show cause notice to Anurag Thakur and asked to explain why perjury and contempt proceedings shall not be initiated against him for making certain false statements on oath before the court.
The Supreme Court of Chief Justice T S Thakur, Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, found Thakur a prima facie guilty of misleading the court by making false statements and obstructing implementation of its July 18 order by which it had directed implementation of all recommendations of Justice R M Lodha committee for barring ministers and bureaucrats from the board and setting an age limit of 70 years for office-bearers.
The bench said it will appoint a team of administrators in consultation with amicus Gopal Subramanium and senior advocate Fali S Nariman.
The bench observed that BCCI and state affiliates had failed to implement its repeated direction to bring transparency and accountability. Bench said till administrators are appointed the senior most vice president will operate as President and Joint Secretary as Secretary.
The court also disqualified all BCCI and state body officials who failed to meet new norms set by Lodha panel.
Putting a brave face, Anurag Thakur has welcomed Apex Court order. Thakur, in a video clip released through mail and uploaded on social media hailed the contribution of the BCCI, and termed BCCI a best sports body in the country, which had successfully built and maintained infrastructure over the years. He stated
“It is not personal battle and for me, it was a battel of the autonomy of the sport body, I respect the Supreme Court as any citizen should. Supreme Court Judges free that BCCI could do better under retired judges I wish them all the best. I am sure Indian Cricket will do well under their guidance. My commitment to the best of Indian Cricket, and autonomy of the sport always remain.”
Quick to drag Court battle to the political ground, in Anurag Thakur’s home state, political opponents have welcomed the Court decision. Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s son Vikramaditya accused Thakur for bringing bad name for the state. He asked BJP Hamirpur MP to resign from the parliament’s membership.
CPM state leader Tikender Singh Panwar termed the decision as historic and would help in weaning out corrupt elements with corporate interests from the helm of affairs. He also demanded democratisation of HPCA in the state and the state government must ensure that action must be taken against the convertible HPCA from society into company and all those responsible for doing this right from the president and those who are into different government jobs must be taken to task.
