N Srinivasan drags BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur to court alleging perjury

ICC Chairman N Srinivasan has accused Anurag Thakur of fallacious statements

Former BCCI Supremo N Srinivasan has submitted a plea to the Supreme Court seeking legal proceedings against BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur on charges of perjury over a "false affidavit" and "plethora of misleading statements" in court. Indian Express reported the exiled Tamil Nadu strongman claiming that Thakur had provided falsified information and maligned his image.

In recent developments surrounding the adjournment of a BCCI Working Committee meeting due to the protest raised by a few members on his presence, Srinivasan sought an explanation on Thakur’s affidavit on the BCCI’s application to the Supreme Court.

The BCCI had alleged that the conflict of interest of Mr. N Srinivasan continued and also mentioned his name as one of the trustees in the India Cements Shareholders Trust. However, Srinivasan argued that Thakur had intentionally bewildered everyone by involving his namesake, another N Srinivasan who was working with a chartered accountancy firm in Chennai.

Thakur was seemingly motivated to amend the error which according to Srinivasan did not warrant any confusion as the records were in the custody of BCCI. Srinivasan also slammed Thakur’s opinion that the amendment to clause 6.2.4 of the board's constitution, which allowed board members to have a commercial interest in the IPL and the Champions League T20, was carried out in order to prolong his participation in the Chennai Super Kings ownership.

He asserted, "While the records of the BCCI show the reasons for amendments to be unrelated to personal interests of the applicant or that of the interest of India Cements Ltd, to say that amendment was to benefit the applicant would be an egregious lie.”

The ICC Chairman also reminded Thakur that himself along with the current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi who was the then President of Gujarat Cricket Association, had given their consent to the amendment.

Thakur had also alluded to Srinivasan jostling his way into the working committee meeting which was held on August 28. Srinivasan negated his statement by attaching affidavits from BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary, Vice President TC Mathew and Jayesh George, Joint Secretary of Kerala Cricket Association, that apparently proved the non-objection to his appearance at the meeting.

"The averments in the false application can then only be personal to Anurag Thakur, who has abused the process of this court by filing his personal false affidavit in the garb of an affidavit on behalf of the BCCI.”

Srinivasan appealed to the Supreme Court for charges under Sections 193 and 209 of the Indian Penal Code which can result in a maximum of seven years of rigorous imprisonment.

He had previously offered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for breaching a court order by presiding over a BCCI Working Committee meeting. Meanwhile, the BCCI is currently preparing to elect a new board President on October 4.