Modi is out of the country presently and is unlikely to make it in time for the 12 noon summons by the committee comprising IPL’s interim chairman Chirayu Amin, Arun Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justices BH Marlapalle and Roshan Dalvi rejected the petition filed by Modi seeking reconstitution of the disciplinary committee of the BCCI comprising itnerim IPL chairman Chiryau Amin, Arun Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The HC, rejecting Modi’s plea, said that it was not going into the merits of IPL Commissioner’s petition but the disciplinary committee itself can decide on the reconstitution when it meets.
“He has to appear personally before the Disciplinary Committee,” said BCCI CAO Prof Ratnakar Shetty when asked whether any other person can represent the suspended T20 League Chairman. The Committee has time till October 25 to finalise its report and submit it to the Board. One of the members, Amin, has already indicated the job would be done by September, an obvious hint it would be completed before the BCCI AGM.
If the committee upholds the charges against Modi, he can be expelled for three years from the Board through a 3/4th majority at the Special General Meeting when it is convened to decide his fate. Shetty said if Modi fails to attend the hearing fixed for 12 noon on Friday, then the committee has the option of providing him with a fresh date. “I don’t know about the procedure or legalities. Normally tomorrow, if he does not turn up for the hearing, then probably a fresh date may be issued to him by the disciplinary committee,” he added. Modi’s attorney and representative Mehmood Abdi said there was no need for his client to be present personally at the meetings, indicating a tug-of-war between the Board and suspended IPL Commissioner.
“Mr Modi is abroad and he would be represented by his duly authorised representative to plead to the requisition and reconstitution of the Disciplinary Committee,” Abdi said.
Meanwhile, Scindia, a member of the disciplinary committee said, report on Modi’s irregularities will be submitted to the board bu early October. “I am going through replies given by Modi...The Committee will give its report by early October,” Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries and a member of the Disciplinary Committee, Jyotiraditya Scindia told PTI.
Scindia said that Modi may be questioned during the course of trial. “We are looking at all the aspect of complaints. If there is a need for some clarification, he (Modi) will be called in,” he said.
“It appears prima facie that there has been certain irregularities. There are serious charges against him,” Scindia said, adding that the Committee probe will be unbiased and free from all influence.
