BCCI disciplinary committee to resume hearing on Sep 26

New Delhi:

The BCCI's disciplinary committee, probing charges of financial irregularities against suspended IPL chairman Lalit Modi, will resume its hearing on September 26 here after the cross-examination process could not be completed despite a marathon session.

The cross examination of IMG official Peter Griffiths, a BCCI's witness, could not be completed as Modi's counsel Kotwal sought more time to question the witness.

After the first two days of the hearing could not make much progress because of the petition in the Bombay High Court and Jyotiraditya Scindia's illness, the disciplinary committee's meeting this afternoon lasted for close to six hours before it was decided that it would meet again on September 26 as scheduled.

"The cross-examination of Peter Griffiths is still not concluded. Mr Kotwal, learned counsel for Lalit Modi says he may take some more time. The hearing has been adjourned to September 26, 2010 as earlier scheduled," the BCCI said in a press release.

"The timing of the hearing is shifted to 3.00 pm at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. The hearing will continue on September 27th and 28th during the timings as decided earlier. If necessary, a session of the hearing will also be held on September 29th at 4.00 pm in Mumbai. It is made clear that the recording of the cross-examination of Mr Peter Griffiths, Mr John Loffhagen, Mr Paul Manning and Mr Sundar Raman would be endeavoured to be concluded during this time," the release added.

The meeting came on a day when Modi's petition challenging the constitution of the disciplinary committee was dismissed by the Bombay High Court.

Modi had demanded recusal of Arun Jaitley and Chirayu Amin from the disciplinary panel, saying they were biased against him.

Interestingly all the four BCCI's witnesses had closely worked with Modi in the first three editions of the Indian Premier League and their testimonies could play a key role in deciding the fate of the suspended chairman.

While IPL and Champions League Twenty20 CEO S Sundar Raman has come from South Africa, the three IMG officials have come from England.

The BCCI is keen to complete the cross-examination process quickly so that they could return early. Modi has so far not attended a single meeting of the disciplinary committee.