Mumbai: Observing that the allegations of corruption levelled against Mumbai cricketer Hiken Shah were of serious nature, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by him challenging BCCI's order suspending him for flouting its anti-corruption code.
The cricket body suspended Shah, a batsman who was part of Mumbai Ranji squad, on July 13 after he was found guilty of making ‘corrupt approach’ to a teammate who was also a member of the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise.
Shah approached the High Court through his lawyer, Som Sinha, claiming that he was not given a hearing before BCCI passed its order and hence the suspension should be set aside.
A division bench of Justices VM Kanade and BP Colabawalla was, however, of the view that the allegations against Shah were serious. The court, while dismissing the petition, said Shah can approach BCCI's disciplinary committee if he wishes to.
According to BCCI, after Shah approached the Rajasthan Royals player, the franchise informed the cricket body about the incident and BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya asked its anti-corruption unit to conduct an inquiry. The inquiry commissioner found Shah guilty of ‘breaching’ its anti-corruption code, it said. The BCCI then suspended Shah pending completion of an inquiry and passing of an 'appropriate order' by its disciplinary committee.
