Madras High Court orders criminal case against TNCA

The Madras High Court has directed the Chennai Police to file a criminal case against the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) for allegedly suppressing facts to secure a stability certificate for the stands at the MA Chidambaram Stadium to host IPL matches. The direction was passed on a petition that submitted that the TNCA had been inconsistent with its assessment of the structure's stability.

According to the petitioner, J Mohanraj, the TNCA had in 2009 obtained a stability certificate from the Public Works Department (PWD) to conduct a Test match that year. Yet later that same year it sought permission from the local administration to demolish the entire stadium and rebuild it because it felt the structure was old and weak.

In 2010, the TNCA obtained a stability certificate from the PWD to conduct IPL matches, but the petitioner contended that the TNCA did so without disclosing the previous letter to the collector. The petitioner further submitted that he filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Chennai Police on January 7, 2011, seeking action against TNCA which, he alleged, was cheating the Government and endangering lives of thousands of public, but no action was taken.

The stadium, built in 1916, has hosted most of India's international matches in Chennai and all Chennai Super Kings' home games since 2008.