CAB files contempt plea against BCCI heads, Katju in Supreme Court

The Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) has submitted a plea to the Supreme Court seeking contempt action against BCCI president Anurag Thakur, secretary Ajay Shirke and former judge Markandey Katju for their "vilification campaign" against the Supreme Court. CAB secretary Aditya Verma's plea comes a day after the BCCI filed a petition seeking a review of the Supreme Court's verdict in which most of the Lodha Committee's recommendations had been approved. It is understood that Verma's petition is likely to be heard next week.

Verma alleged that Thakur, Shirke and Katju, appointed to counsel the BCCI on the Supreme Court verdict, were trying to stonewall the reforms. He contended there was an attempt at "scandalising the Court and lowering its dignity in the eyes of the public at large and which would also amount to a direct interference in the administration of justice."

"That the intentions of the BCCI officers are mala fide is evident from the media campaign that is being carried out at their behest," Verma stated in his petition. "Almost on a daily basis statements are being made which are not innocent criticism of the judgment passed by this Hon'ble Court but an elaborate vilification campaign undertaken through the powerful tool of the media with a view to drum up public opinion that the judiciary of the country is transgressing its limits."

Verma also referred to several media reports that published Katju's statements criticising the Supreme Court's judgment. Katju had called the verdict "unconstitutional and illegal", while also terming the Lodha panel "null and void." Verma stated that Katju's remarks were "clearly libelous and in defiance" of the judgment.

"The Contemnor No. 3 [Katju] who has been a part of the judicial system is well aware of the binding nature of the judgments passed by this Hon'ble Court," Verma said. "It is therefore, all the more deplorable that the Contemnor no.3 has been making the members of the judiciary sitting targets of his vile comments."

Verma also objected to Thakur's absence in the meeting with the Lodha Committee on August 9. While Shirke attended the meeting, Thakur, a member of parliament with the ruling party, BJP, informed of his unavailability with the parliament being in session. Verma also alleged that Thakur had lowered the authority of the Supreme Court by alluding to judicial interference in the BCCI's affairs.

"On August 11, 2016 Mr. Anurag Thakur, President BCCI, made the following statement - 'People who have never played the game, they are trying to govern the Board. Efforts are being made to cut BCCI's roots.' This statement tends to lower the authority of the Hon'ble Supreme Court within the meaning of criminal contempt defined in section 2 (c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971."

Verma's petition following the IPL 2013 corruption scandal had triggered a slew of courtroom battles that culminated in the creation of the Lodha Committee to initiate structural reforms within the BCCI.