SC turns down Modi's plea against disciplinary panel

In a setback to former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, the Supreme Court, on Monday, dismissed his plea seeking reconstitution of the BCCI-appointed disciplinary panel probing allegations of financial irregularities against him.

A bench comprising justices J M Panchal and H L Gokhale said that the three-member committee was "validly" constituted by the BCCI and it cannot be reconstituted merely on the ground of apprehensions of biasness expressed by Modi.

"We cannot presume that member won't give fair hearing to the petitioner (Modi)," the bench said adding "committee was validly constituted".

"Mere apprehension of biasness cannot be a ground to reconstitute the committee," the bench said.

Modi had sought reconstitution of the three-member panel comprising Arun Jaitley, Chirayu Amin and Jyotiraditya Scindia for probing alleged irregularities by him.

He had sought removal of Jaitley and Amin from the panel, alleging that they might be biased against him as they were part of the Special General Body meeting of BCCI where decision against Modi was taken.

He moved the apex court after the Bombay High Court on July 15, 2010 dismissed his appeal of reconstitution of the committee and challenging his suspension from BCCI.