HC gives nod to restart BCCI's inquiry against Lalit Modi

MUMBAI: Paving way for the BCCI's Disciplinary Committee to resume its inquiry against former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, the Bombay High Court today dismissed his application seeking confirmation of an earlier interim stay to the proceedings.

"No ground has been made out in Modi's application. We are determined that he is trying to delay the proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee (DC) on one ground or the other," Justice S J Kathawala observed in his ruling today.

The Court further said that it was essential that the Disciplinary Committee was allowed to complete its inquiry.

BCCI formed the DC last year to look into charges of financial improprieties against Modi during his tenure as IPL Commissioner.

Justice Kathawala, on December 25 last year, had granted interim stay to the proceedings of DC, after Modi approached the Court challenging DC's continuance.

Modi recently filed an application seeking confirmation of the interim stay, which was dismissed today.

"If Modi is allowed to succeed in his endeavour of delaying the inquiry before the Disciplinary Committee, the entire purpose and object of the enquiry against him would be lost," the court said.

"There are several witnesses who are foreign nationals coming from abroad to give their evidence in the matter... who may subsequently not be available to depose before the Disciplinary Committee," Justice Kathawala said.

The court also accepted BCCI's argument that the Committee was a sort of domestic tribunal which would only conduct an inquiry and submit findings. The ultimate decision- making body was the BCCI itself, it had said.

The court has kept Modi's main suit against the DC pending. In this suit, Modi has challenged the very existence of the Committee, saying its term expired on September 29 last year and it was not reconstituted.