New Delhi: The Supreme Court threatened Thursday to initiate contempt and perjury proceedings against BCCI president Anurag Thakur for asking the ICC CEO for a letter but denying it on oath, warning he may have to go to jail if found guilty.
The court reminded the BCCI top brass that Thakur as president of the board had asked for a letter from Dave Richardson that the appointment of a CAG nominee in the cricket body would compromise with autonomy and amount to government interference.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur, Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, pulled up the BCCI for trying to mislead the court and warned Thakur that he may land in jail if the apex court pronounces its order in perjury proceedings.
“Why are you trying to mislead the court? If you want to escape perjury charges, you ought to apologise. At every stage you have been trying to obstruct. Everyone wants to go around and continue to hold the post even after 70 years. This is such a lucrative business that everyone wants to go on forever.
“Freedom of expression allows you to disagree with the order but you can’t obstruct implementation of order. Once we pronounce the order (in perjury proceedings), you will have no other place to go to, except jail,” the court said.
While the bench was dwelling on the issue of Justice RM Lodha panel’s suggestion to appoint former home secretary GK Pillai as an observer of BCCI, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the board, said, “We have strong reservations but I don’t want to come out with the reason in public domain.”
However, the bench continued to express its strong displeasure against Thakur’s conduct. “If you are asking for a letter from ICC, we prima facie feel that you are in contempt and we also prima facie feel that you are liable for perjury and we are inclined to launch prosecution,” said the bench.
“What was the occasion to raise this issue after the judgement of this court? How can you tell ICC CEO to give a letter that what this court has said in its judgement about CAG nominee amounts to governmental interference. This amounts to perjury,” the bench added.
“Prima facie, we feel you are in contempt of court and we are inclined to launch prosecution against you. ICC chairman Mr (Shashank Manohar) says that you have asked him to write a letter. There was no occasion for you to do it when the Supreme Court had said that appointment of CAG nominee would bring in transparency. You intend to defeat the whole purpose of the judgment,” the bench further added.
Press Trust of India
