In a significant relief to BJP leader and former BCCI president Anurag Thakur, the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed him to once again participate in the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), modifying a 2017 order that had restrained him from doing so.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order while allowing Thakur’s plea seeking modification of the earlier direction. The bench invoked the doctrine of proportionality, noting that Thakur had already faced proceedings and had tendered an “unqualified apology” before the top court.
On January 2, 2017, the Supreme Court had directed Anurag Thakur to “cease and desist” from any involvement in BCCI affairs after finding him prima facie guilty of obstructing the implementation of reforms recommended by the Lodha Committee. The court had also initiated contempt and perjury proceedings against him for allegedly filing a false affidavit in connection with his communication to then ICC chairperson Shashank Manohar regarding BCCI’s autonomy.
However, on July 14, 2017, the apex court dropped the contempt and perjury charges after Thakur appeared in person and offered an unconditional and unequivocal apology.
In light of Thakur’s prior apology and the lapse of time since the original order, the Supreme Court on Thursday modified its January 2017 directive, holding that Thakur is now free to take part in BCCI affairs, subject to the governing rules and regulations.
“The doctrine of proportionality has to be applied in such matters,” the bench observed, signalling that the previous restrictions were no longer necessary or justified.
The development marks a formal closure to a long-standing bar that had kept Thakur away from India’s top cricketing body.
