Lalit Modi, the disgraced founder of the Indian Premier League, was Tuesday declared the winner of elections to head a state cricket association in the first step of an unlikely comeback bid.
Modi, who is exiled in London after his passport was revoked by the Indian government over corruption allegations, was finally named as president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association following elections last December after the Supreme Court allowed the results to be announced.
But his former colleagues at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which had been trying to block the announcement, refused to recognise the results and suspended the Rajasthan association until further notice.
“The Supreme Court had directed that if it is found by BCCI that any person has acted against its rules, regulations or law, it would be open to it to take action against such a person,” board secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement.
“In pursuance of the order, Shivlal Yadav, interim President, BCCI, has suspended the Rajasthan Cricket Association from the membership of the BCCI, pending disciplinary proceedings against it on charges of misconduct.”
The release added that an ad-hoc committee would be formed to run cricket in Rajasthan “in order to safeguard the best interests and welfare of the cricketers playing the game and their future”.
The BCCI last September imposed a life ban on Modi holding any cricket post after finding him guilty of “serious” acts of indiscipline and misconduct over allegations that he had siphoned off funds.
The life ban came a little over three years after Modi was removed as Indian Premier League chairman and BCCI vice-president following the end in 2010 of the third edition of the popular Twenty20 league.
The 50-year-old scion of a business family, who is also being investigated by the government on corruption and money-laundering charges, has in the past denied all allegations against him.
The life ban was unrelated to spot-fixing and betting scandals currently swirling around the IPL, which caused the Supreme Court to force BCCI chief N. Srinivasan to stand down until investigations were completed.
The IPL, which began in 2008, features the world’s top players signed up for huge fees by companies and individuals in a glitzy mix of sport and entertainment.
International news organisations, including Agence France-Presse, have suspended their on-field coverage of matches hosted by the BCCI after the board imposed restrictions on picture agencies.