The Rajasthan High Court has restrained the Badminton Association of India (BAI) president V. K. Verma on three counts, including implementing "any decision dealing with the present composition of BAI without the specific permission" of the Court.
The Court passed the order on Monday at Jodhpur on a writ petition filed by Arshad Ali and others against Union of India and others.
The decision noted that Mr. Verma shall not take any decision nor shall enter into any contract or arrangement, by whatever name called, that might create financial liability or burden on BAI without specific permission of the Court.
The Court also stated that the BAI, through Mr. Verma or the BAI general secretary Vijai Sinha shall not implement any decision dealing with the present composition of BAI without specific permission of the Court; and both shall not take any coercive measure or action against the members and affiliates of BAI.
Reacting to the court's verdict, Mr. Verma sounded unperturbed and said, "It must be noted that neither the BAI nor the BAI president has been restrained by the court.
He said that the Executive Committee of the BAI would meet as scheduled on August 13 at Hyderabad to discuss, among other issues, the report of the five-member disciplinary committee set up to look into the charges of financial misappropriation by Mr. Sinha. "The decision of the Executive Committee will be submitted to the Court."
The next hearing comes up in the court on August 17. The disciplinary committee, under the Chairmanship of Jt. Director General (Police) Durga Prasad, includes four BAI vice-presidents, S. P. Singh (North Zone), Narhari Thakur (West), Prabhakar Rao (East) and Gyaneshwar Singh (North-East). The committee is looking into the alleged 'fake' return air tickets submitted by Dr. Sinha to the BAI for reimbursement recently.
"We have proof from the concerned airlines that these tickets are fake. The committee has heard Dr. Sinha twice (on July 25 and July 29) and he will be given one more chance to present his case before the committee submits its report on August 7. The report will then be sent to those attending the executive meeting on August 13," said Mr. Verma.
Meanwhile, another BAI Executive Committee meeting called by Dr. Sinha is scheduled for August 10 at Lucknow.
