HC: Young players in IPL only for money
The court asked additional solicitor general Anil Singh, who appeared for the ED.
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday said that young cricket players only want to make money by playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and that the cricket league was “no more a clean entertainment” in view of alleged violations of foreign exchange rules.
“Young cricketers want to play in the popular T20 cricket league and earn Rs 5 to 10 crore in one tournament and not play for the country,” the court observed.
A division bench of Justice S.C. Dharmadhikari and Justice Bharati Dangre was hearing a petition filed by former IPL chairman Lalit Modi challenging a July 2015 order of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) refusing him permission to cross-examine witnesses in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case. The ED had alleged violations of foreign exchange rules during the 2009 IPL in South Africa. The adjudicating authority had recorded the statements of seven witnesses, including senior BCCI officials, against Modi, but did not allow him to cross-examine them.
Senior counsel Aspi Chinoy, appearing for Modi, argued that his fundamental rights would be violated if he was not allowed to cross-examine the witnesses.
The court asked additional solicitor general Anil Singh, who appeared for the ED, what purpose was being served by dragging the case on for so long over “such small issues”. “This issue is pending for long. What is the point? The larger public interest is to defeat foreign exchange violations. Looking at the serious allegations, we feel IPL is no more a clean entertainment,” Justice Dharmadhikari said.
The bench also asked Mr Chinoy if Modi was ready to return to India and face these proceedings. “In future if your (Modi’s) presence is required, are you ready to come?” Justice Dharmadhikari asked. Mr Chinoy, however, said Modi (his lawyers) should be allowed to first cross-examine the witnesses in the present case. The bench will pass order on the petition on Tuesday.