Lodha panel turns down BCCI request to defer meeting

The Committee has no option but to submit it status report to the Supreme Court that the BCCI officials are not cooperating.

Its official now, the BCCI has decided to go against the Supreme Court’s July 18 order. On Sunday night, Board secretary Ajay Shirke wrote to the Lodha Committee, asking for the August 9 meeting to be deferred.

The BCCI decided to follow Justice Katju’s advice to not appear before the Lodha Committee.

The Committee turned down the request.

In the current scenario, the Committee has no option but to submit it status report to the apex court that the BCCI officials are not cooperating.

“Ajay Shirke wrote to the Committee late last night requesting that the meeting on Tuesday with him and (BCCI chief) Anurag Thakur be deferred. The request has been declined,” a Committee member told HT on Monday.

Para 92 of the July 18 Supreme Court order reads, “Needless to say that the BCCI and all concerned shall cooperate and act in aid of the Committee and its directives.”

It further reads, “Should any impediments arise, the Committee shall be free to seek appropriate directions from this court by filing a status report in that regard.”

As legal arguments are over, the BCCI’s decision to appoint Justice Markandey Katju as advisor raised questions. The BCCI decided to follow Justice Katju’s advice to not appear before the Lodha Committee.

Thakur and Shirke are now answerable to the Supreme Court over the BCCI’s obstinacy.