A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking removal of Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from the post of President of Badminton Association of India (BAI), alleging that his appointment was in violation of the apex court order that a minister or a public servant cannot become an office bearer in a sports body.
The PIL, which also alleged that Sarma was facing graft charges in the Saradha chit fund scam and had been summoned by CBI in the matter, sought direction to appoint a committee of administrators, as done by the top court in the case of BCCI in 2016, to ensure smooth functioning of BAI.
The plea, filed by Delhi resident Kamlesh Verma, also sought the court's direction to supersede other office-bearers of BAI with immediate effect and call for relevant records pertaining to sports body's financial transactions ever since Sarma took charge as its President.
Sarma, Assam's finance minister and a prominent BJP leader in the region, was appointed BAI President on April 23 last year after its then President Akhilesh Das Gupta died during his tenure.
Repying to the PIL, Himanta said, "I am a law abiding citizen. If under any law minister can not become president Of BAI then I will not be. As simple as that
As of now I am not aware of any such court order. If there is any I will abide by that."
(Sources: The Economic Times)
