Tit for tat? BCCI wants recusal of Lalit Modi lawyer

The Lalit Modi case took a new turn on Sunday when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked one of his lawyers to recuse himself from the case. The BCCI demand was a sort of counter-attack on the Modi camp which has been insisting on the recusal of at least two of the three members  — Arun Jaitley, Chirayu Amin — of the disciplinary committee. Jyotiraditya Scindia is the other member.

“Just heard that BCCI want my lawyers to recuse themselves! Shocked since meeting was for committee’s recusal. People party to all decisions don’t want to recuse themselves. But want my team who are presenting my case too. Is this how an enquiry is done?” a surprised Modi commented on Twitter. Modi, as expected, was not present at the hearing. He is believed to be somewhere in Europe.

Prior to that, Modi’s lawyer, Mehmood Abdi, made a strong remark on the BCCI. “Just a while ago, I came to know that the BCCI is planning to do some ugly things. However, I cannot disclose it right now. I will have to first seek their clarification in this matter before pressing for the recusal issue,” Abdi said.

“If such ugly things  continue, the issue will drag on and it will take a long time to sort it out,” Abdi told mediapersons.

It was later learnt that the BCCI, represented by PR Raman and Akhila Kaushik, wanted Venkatesh Dhond, one of the counsels of Modi, to recuse himself because he had represented the Board in a case involving WSG and Sony in 2009.

However, Jaitley is believed to have rejected the argument. It was understood that the committee later allowed Dhond to continue.
Meanwhile, the committee adjourned the meeting after hearing the arguments for over three hours at a five star hotel in New Delhi. No date has been fixed for the next hearing. The hearing was, of course, revolved around Modi’s recusal plea and the real issues of charges and show-cause notices and replies have not yet been taken up by the panel.

According to the minutes of the committee, made available to the media, the committee reserved its order on the recusal plea.

“Dhond has completed his argument on the recusal application.  PR Raman, on behalf of the BCCI, has made his argument to which Dhond has given his rejoinder. We reserve our orders on the recusal application. Both parties would be informed of the order as soon as it is pronounced,” the committee members noted in the minutes.