Thaindian News

Kolkata, Nov 12 (IANS) Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya Wednesday said he stood vindicated as truth had prevailed with the Calcutta High Court order on filing criminal cases against six of his detractors in the board. “I am happy… my stand is vindicated. Truth always prevails,” Dalmiya said while reacting to the court’s order.

The six current and former officials of the board against whom the court has ordered perjury cases to be filed are Agriculture Minister and former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar, present board chief Shashank Manohar, chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty, secretary N. Srinivasan, his immediate predecessor Niranjan Shah and Chirayu Amin.

The Pawar-led BCCI regime had expelled Dalmiya Dec 17, 2006 alleging financial irregularities with regard to the 1996 World Cup accounts.

Dalmiya had then moved the court pleading for revocation of the expulsion order, claiming that the rules under which he was expelled were not valid.

Terming the BCCI’s decision to expel him as “uncalled for”, Dalmiya said when he went to the court, his lawyers said that the documents furnished by the board was questionable.

“So after the court issued an injuction against my expulsion, I filed a case for criminal prosecution of six BCCI officials, as they were either office bearers or holding a post in a committee,” Dalmiya told reporters.

Recalling the humiliation he faced, Dalmiya said he had occupied top positions as a cricket administrator.

“Starting from being treasurer of this body (Cricket Association of Bengal) in 1978-79, I became International Cricket Council (ICC) president. I never thought this (humiliation) could happen to me.

“But I have always believed that truth and honesty would prevail, and if I am correct people will realise it,” he said.

The six board officials signed an affidavit before the Calcutta High Court April 2, 2007, claiming Dalmiya was expelled under the new rules framed by the body and registered with the Chennai-based Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies.

Dalmiya filed the perjury case July 20, 2007, the day when the Calcutta High Court declared the expulsion illegal.

Justice Nadir Patheriya Wednesday said the board mandarins had lied to court, committed perjury and submitted a false affidavit, and directed the Registrar of the Calcutta High Court to initiate criminal proceedings.