RCA polls: Supreme Court observer rules Lalit Modi not out

Decks have been cleared for Lalit Modi to fight the RCA elections after the principal observer appointed by the Supreme Court rejected the objections raised on Modi’s candidature.

But this has at the same time also raised the threat of BCCI suspending the RCA and withdrawing all benefits accruing out of the association, including that of “sending players representing the state association for BCCI conducted tournaments”.

Modi will contest secretary of Bhilwara Cricket Association Rampal Sharma, who’s a trusted aide of current RCA president and former Union minister CP Joshi, in the polling to be held on Thursday, December 19.

On Wednesday, morning the hearing on scrutiny of nominations of both Lalit Modi and another candidate Pawan Goyal for the post of RCA president started and within 15 minutes, justice NM Kasliwal, the observer appointed by Supreme Court, cleared the nominations of both the candidates.

“There were certain objections which have been cleared and Lalit Modi and Pawan Goyal are eligible to contest the elections,” informed justice NM Kasliwal to mediapersons.

The decision was then within minutes pasted on the doors of the election officer BL Gupta.

Modi’s opponent Rampal Sharma arrived in RCA Academy after hearing about the order and questioned the decision of the observers. “We will be seeking legal advice on the order,” he said while speaking to mediapersons.

With Modi’s name getting stamp of approval, the BCCI has again threatened the RCA that it would be suspended for facilitating Lalit Modi to fight elections.