Modi seeks Jaitley's recusal from disciplinary panel

Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi has sought recusal of Arun Jaitley from the three-member Disciplinary Committee probing charges of irregularities against him in the conduct of the cash-rich T20 cricket tournament.
Citing principle of natural justice, a defence team representing the former IPL head has accused Jaitley of being a complainant in Kochi franchise dispute involving Modi and objected to his being one of the Disciplinary Committee members.
It has also contended that not all the three members were present in-person during most of the disciplinary committee proceedings but via video link or any other medium.
"Jaitley being a complainant in Kochi franchise dispute cannot be a judge. It has been proved by a minutes of meeting of BCCI's governing council dated June 25, 2010," said Mehmood M Abdi, General Counsel & Constituted Attorney of Modi.

According to the minutes of the meeting, Jaitley had called the then BCCI head Shashank Manohar to convey apprehension raised by one of the bankers claimed to be associated with Kochi franchise, namely Rendezvous Sports, over undue delay by Modi (who was IPL Commissioner then) in execution of agreements in relation to the franchise even though it was a successful bidder.
Abdi has alleged Jaitley to be involved in issuance of show cause notices by the BCCI against Modi in connection with the irregularities and had raised the issue with the disciplinary panel comprising Jyotiraditya Scindia and Chirayu Amin last year.

The matter was deliberated upon and Jaitley in his statement denied his involvement before the panel.
"I have absolutely no connection or interest, direct or indirect, with Kochi franchise. Neither have I contributed in any manner in the issuance of the show cause notices to Modi," Jaitley had said.