BCCI to challenge Act that enabled Lalit Modi contest Rajasthan Cricket elections

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Saturday decided to move the Supreme Court to challenge the Rajasthan Sports Act 2005 that enabled Lalit Modi to contest the Rajasthan Cricket Association presidential elections on December 19. Modi, who has been banned for life by the BCCI for financial wrongdoing when he was IPL boss from 2008 to 2010, is riding the controversial Act to return as Rajasthan cricket chief.

The BCCI said in a press statement that it will "intervene" in the Special Leave Petition filed by former RCA secretary Kishore Rungta in the Supreme Court challenging the Rajasthan Sports Act. The matter comes up for hearing before a division bench of Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice Deepak Mishra on January 6. Rungta had filed the SLP particularly challenging Rajasthan Sports Act of 2005 that abolished individual members' voting rights. (Polls can see new equations)

The RCA elections were held in Jaipur on December 19 and the Modi group is confident that it will win the support of at least 29 of the 33 district units. The RCA, which is governed by the Rajasthan Sports Act, had ignored a BCCI diktat and went ahead with the elections that were supervised by two former judges appointed by the Supreme Court. The court is expected to declare the results on January 6, the same time when Rungta's SLP will also be heard. (Can't ban Modi, Rajasthan tells BCCI)

The BCCI working committee met in Chennai on Saturday to discuss how to stop Modi from returning as RCA president. It was decided that BCCI and Rungta will form a combine to contest the Act that allowed Modi to become RCA president in 2005. The BCCI also decided to take strict action against RCA for flouting Board directives. But the Board said the interest of cricket and players won't be harmed. (Srinivasan should not decide on Modi: Abdi)