The Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) on Wednesday moved Supreme Court in a bid to stall BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur from contesting the scheduled election to President’s post, contending that a charge-sheeted person cannot contest under the Lodha Committee recommendations.
The CAB, in its plea, said there are two charge sheets filed against Thakur, including the one relating to construction of a cricket stadium in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh under the Prevention of Corruption Act and in one case, charges have been framed.
It said that it will not be appropriate to fill the vacancy caused by incumbent Shashank Manohar’s resignation by conducting an election till the pendency of the matter relating to the administrative reforms as it is listed for hearing on June 30, 2016. The plea of CAB, filed through its secretary Aditya Kumar Verma, was mentioned before a vacation bench of Justices A M Sapre and Ashok Bhushan which did not give urgent hearing saying the issue is a part-heard matter pending before a regular bench headed by CJI T S Thakur.
Advocate Vikas Mehta, appearing for CAB, said it is an urgent matter as the election is scheduled for May 22 and under the regulation of BCCI, 21 days notice has to be given for conduct of AGM, the agenda of which has to be circulated to the members of the BCCI.
He also sought implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations under which a candidate, who has been charge sheeted in a case, cannot contest the BCCI election for office bearers. The bench asked the CAB to mention the matter before vacation Registrar for listing it before the regular bench.
“It has also come to the public knowledge that Secretary of the BCCI, Anurag Thakur, is contemplating contesting for the post of President.
“It is submitted that as per the media reports, it is within the knowledge of the applicant that there are two charge sheets that have been filed against Anurag Thakur, and that in one case, charges have been framed,” the petition said.