BFI executives move Delhi HC over suspension
BFI’s former secretary general Hemanta Kalita and treasurer Digvijay Singh were suspended on March 18, after being found guilty of “financial irregularities”
New Delhi: Boxing Federation of India (BFI)’s former secretary general Hemanta Kumar Kalita and treasurer Digvijay Singh have moved the Delhi high court against the federation’s president Ajay Singh’s decision to suspend them.
Kalita and Singh were suspended on March 18, after being found guilty of “financial irregularities” in an investigation. The decision was made following an inquiry by former Delhi high court judge Sudhir Kumar Jain. Jain was appointed by the BFI to carry out the investigation, following a complaint accusing the two of unauthorised fund withdrawals, fraudulent billing, and abuse of power.
Though the matter was listed before a bench of justice Sachin Datta on Thursday, the same was adjourned for April 1. This happened after Justice Datta opined that the matter should be heard by a bench dealing with cases pertaining to elections since the issue in hand also related to the same. Accordingly justice Datta directed for listing the matter before a bench of justice Mini Pushkarna, subject to the orders of chief justice DK Upadhyay.
During the hearing, the BFI represented by senior advocate Anurag Ahluwalia, argued that the decision was taken following a report submitted by a former Delhi high court judge, indicating financial irregularities committed by the two.
In their petition before the high court argued by advocate Chaitanya Mahajan, the two had asserted that their suspension was in violation of the principles governing the BFI’s constitution and the order was passed without affording them an opportunity of being heard. It went on to add that the committee never got the assent of BFI’s executive committee or general house meeting, and they were removed maliciously.
