Arguments in the suit filed by former India cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, seeking various reliefs, including setting aside of the life ban imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for his alleged role in the match-fixing scandal, continued for the second day on Wednesday.
Azharuddin's counsel P Jagdish pleaded before the second additional chief judge, Hyderabad city civil court, that former Central Bureau of Investigation director K Madhavan, who was entrusted by the BCCI the job of conducting an inquiry against him, had no knowledge of cricket nor any understanding about the basics of the game and, hence, was not competent to hold an inquiry against the cricketer.
The counsel alleged that Madhavan was selected by then BCCI president A C Muthiah not because of his expertise but because of the fact that he was willing to play into his hands.
"He was literally dancing to the tunes of the BCCI, which had pre-decided to disqualify Azharuddin."
He contended that Madhavan did not afford any fair opportunity to Azharuddin to counter the serious allegations levelled against him, which touched upon his character, integrity and, above all, his commitment to the game of cricket.
Even before punishment could be inflicted upon him (Azharuddin) by selective attacks, the BCCI and Madhavan had mollified the image of the former captain, he said.
The counsel added that even while Azharuddin was being examined in a closed room in a hotel, Madhavan would interact with the press and reveal the outcome of his examination.
He said Madhavan proceeded against Azharuddin more with an intention of accomplishing the task assigned to him by the BCCI, especially by Muthiah, which was to fix him somehow or the other.
The entire report submitted by Madhavan is in violation of principles of natural justice and vitiated by a deep-rooted conspiracy and malice towards Azharuddin, he said, adding there was a selective discrimination against Azharuddin even while inflicting the punishment.
"Madhavan's report requires to be thrown out, holding it to be vitiated by malafide exercise of power of non-observance of principles of natural justice," the counsel concluded.
The arguments would continue on Thursday.
