News

Modi's requests for recusal rejected

Lalit Modi's fight against the BCCI has hit another roadblock after his request to remove specific members of the board's disciplinary committee was rejected

Cricinfo staff
11-Aug-2010
Another meeting and no progress yet for Lalit Modi  •  AFP

Another meeting and no progress yet for Lalit Modi  •  AFP

The BCCI has rejected a request by Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, for specific members of the board's disciplinary committee, investigating charges against him, to recuse themselves from the proceedings. A brief statement by the board didn't outline any reasons but stated that the next hearing of the committee will be on Wednesday, August 18, in New Delhi.
Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, had sought the removal of interim IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley from the committee on grounds that they were biased against him. The committee met on August 1 to discuss the recusal issue but adjourned the meeting without a ruling. Modi did not attend the meeting via video conferencing despite saying he was willing to do so.
This disciplinary committee has met thrice to investigate the allegations against Modi. The committee has until October 26 to submit its recommendations to the board. The BCCI suspended Modi immediately following the conclusion of IPL 3 in April and charged him with financial irregularities relating to the bidding process for IPL franchises, the mid-over ad sales and the sale of theatrical rights. He was also charged with colluding to set up a rebel league in England.
Modi has repeatedly sought Amin's recusal, claiming he was biased because Modi revealed he was part of a failed bid for one of the two new IPL franchises. Modi's lawyers have also argued Jaitley should not be on the panel either because he had voted to ratify the charges against Modi at the board's special general body meeting on July 3.