Fresh no-confidence motion against Lalit Modi

Lalit Modi's controversial second stint as the Rajasthan Cricket Association president dealt a severe blow as the opposition faction passed a no-confidence motion against him and his key aides, as per the Rajasthan High Court. It means the RCA elections will have to be conducted again. The Modi group claimed his supporters were forcefully prevented from reaching the venue of the meeting which had to decide on the motion, and they would appeal to the court on Tuesday.

While setting aside last year's no-confidence motion Amin Pathan and his colleagues had passed, the high court in February had given a month's period to the Pathan lobby for a fresh no-confidence motion.

Accordingly, the opposing faction had called for the motion on Monday. Since only 18 members - all of them Pathan supporters - were present at the scheduled time of 11am, the resolution was passed without a hitch.

While Pathan remained unavailable for a comment, Mehmood Abdi, a key Modi aide, claimed sabotage by the Pathan lobby. In a statement Abdi claimed that members of the Modi faction were attacked by a mob on their way and prevented from reaching the venue at the scheduled time.

"This is the mockery not only of the High Court order but a black day for every democratic institution. Somewhat like the lone student in a class coming first in the exam," Abdi said. "Against this blatant use of brutal force in the broad daylight by hoodlums and depriving the legitimate members of their right to vote by the chairman of the RSSC [Rajasthan State Sports Council], we have moved the Rajasthan High Court and the matter is coming up tomorrow."