Detractor challenges his eligibility for contesting polls, says RCA chief was convicted for drug-trafficking in the US

Testing time for Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) president Lalit Modi doesn't seem to end though he has secured four back to back 'legal' win against his detractors in the past few days.

One of his detractors Sanjay Dixit, who is fuelling a battle against Modi in RCA, challenged Modi's eligibility for contesting in RCA elections. Dixit on Wednesday filed an application before justice NM Kasliwal, who is chairman and observer for the elections of RCA. Dixit alleged in the application that Modi had been convicted for drug trafficking, kidnapping and assaulting in the US in 1985.

"In the previous RCA elections, we had no information about the conviction in the US. We only came to know about it after the previous RCA elections. Now, the matter has come into light, so we are taking up the issue," Dixit said to DNA.

In the application, Dixit based his argument on provisions of section 15(4) read with clause 3 of schedule c of the Rajasthan Sports (Registration, recognition and regulation of associations) Act 2005, hereinafter referred to in short as the Act, a person eligible for contesting election of sports association must not have been convicted in any criminal case. "In view of the conviction of the US court, the candidate is not eligible to contest the RCA election because the offences committed by him amount to grave moral turpitude," Dixit mentioned in application to the election observer.

Dixit mentioned in the application since he is contesting for the similar post (president of RCA), Modi's candidature would directly affect me (Dixit). He said that the nomination papers filed by Modi should be rejected.

Reacting on the allegation, Modi told DNA that these allegations were not new for him. "What is new in this? They have been filing such cases (allegations) for the past ten years. For ten years they have been turned down. Can't they win without crying? They have done nothing for cricket except shout allegations. Let there work for once speak."

Now, the ball is in the justice NM Kasliwal, who has to take a call on the application. Kasliwal said, "We have received some objections. We will look into the matter and would decide on it. Tomorrow (Thursday) is also the scrutiny of the nomination forms."

Minutes of the meeting

RCA election officer Bihari Lal Gupta called a meeting of the members to seek suggestions on the process for the coming polls.

Modi’s counsel Ankur Chawla and SS Hora represented his faction in the meet.

Gupta objected to their presence at the meet since they were not RCA members.

However, observer Kasliwal allowed them to take part in the meeting.

Syed Intishab Ali/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication