Rajasthan High Court on Thursday allowed time till December 14 to sacked IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi to consider a proposal by state authorities to join the probe in the alleged fake cheque of Rs 6 crore given for Jaipur bomb blast victims during IPL matches in 2008.
Published: Nov 04, 2011, 12:45 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 04, 2011, 12:45 AM (IST)
Rajasthan High court has allowed time till December 14 to Lalit Modi to consider the proposal of state government to join the probe in the the case against him © Getty Images
Jaipur: Nov 3, 2011
Rajasthan High Court on Thursday allowed time till December 14 to sacked IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi to consider a proposal by state authorities to join the probe in the alleged fake cheque of Rs 6 crore given for Jaipur bomb blast victims during IPL matches in 2008.
The order was passed by a single bench of Justice M C Sharma on a petition by Modi seeking quashing of an FIR against him after DCP Jose Mohan appeared before it in compliance with a court order.
A day after the court asked for the DCP’s response on whether a prima facie case was made out against Modi, Additional Advocate General Nasir Ali Naquvi appearing for the police official placed two propositions
He suggested that either a one month time may be allowed to Jyoti Nagar Police Station to complete the probe which has been halted due to a stay in the matter or alternatively Modi may come down to DCP Jos Mohan to submit his explanation based on which the police may ascertain some disputed facts.
In both the circumstances the police will submit its report to the High Court.
Opposing the proposal of Naquvi to ask Modi to come to police, senior advocate Amit Desai appearing for Modi contended, “Investigation itself is a harassment when court is convinced that no case is made out from the complaint apparent on the face of record”.
He said the FIR was registered in February, 2008 and for more than five months till the court passed the stay order, no investigation was done by the police which shows that no case exists against Modi.
“Today a bail cancellation application is also pending in coordinate bench and we do not know what would be the fate of that as such we cannot take risk of any concession being made as this is putting Modi’s reputation at stake,” the counsel said.
But when persuaded by the court, Naquvi requested the court to grant him time to consult Modi, who is abroad, and to see if one of the proposals can be acted upon by him.
The court allowed time till December 14 to Modi to consider the proposal of state government to join the probe in the the case against him.
The court, however, made it clear that in case the police find that the FIR against Modi was false and no allegation was found to be correct, President of Nagrik Morcha who filed the FIR shall be booked for malicious prosecution of Modi.
Counsel for the complainant, A K Jain, too gave an undertaking before the court that He is ready to face prosecution if his allegations are found false.
According to the FIR filed against Modi, in the prize distribution ceremony after the match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians on May 17, 2008 at SMS stadium in Jaipur, he had presented a dummy placard of a cheque of Rs 6 crore to the then CM but the entire amount was never deposited.
It was alleged in FIR that IPL had announced that a share of revenue from the tickets sold will be donated to blast victims which resulted in house full shows but the money was misappropriated. (PTI)
