A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved in the Bombay High Court, challenging the Maharashtra government’s retrospective reduction of fees for police protection at Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, potentially costing the state exchequer Rs 14.82 crore in unpaid dues.
Filed by activist Anil Galgali, the petition targets a government circular dated June 26, 2023, which slashed the security charges from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per match, applicable retrospectively from 2011. The plea argues that this adjustment has significantly lowered the arrears owed by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for matches held between 2013 and 2018 at Mumbai’s Wankhede and Brabourne stadiums.
Galgali’s petition criticizes the government’s decision as “illegal, arbitrary, and unconstitutional,” asserting that it unfairly benefits the MCA while draining public funds. According to the petition, the Mumbai police had previously invoiced MCA Rs 14.82 crore for security services provided during the said period. Despite issuing 35 letters to MCA requesting payment, there has been minimal effort by the police to secure the funds, which Galgali describes as indicative of a “lackadaisical and easy-going attitude” within the police department and an uncooperative stance from MCA.
During a recent hearing, Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar directed the additional government pleader, Jyoti Chavan, to present a translated version of the Marathi circular for further examination.
The PIL emphasizes that IPL matches are commercial events involving private franchises, rather than national or international teams, suggesting that government leniency in financial matters sets a poor precedent. Galgali’s plea seeks not only the quashing of the June 2023 circular to the extent of its retrospective application but also mandates for the police to actively pursue the recovery of the full arrears, inclusive of appropriate interest.
