Pune, Nov 29: The district and sessions court today stayed a lower court order restraining the cricket board from suspending Maharashtra cricketer Abhijit Kale from playing matches without holding an inquiry into bribery allegations against him. Additional district court judge B N Deshpande gave the stay order after the cricket board filed an appeal against the lower court's order.

The board had filed an appeal in the district and sessions court asking for a stay on the lower courts order on the grounds that the lower court had not interpreted the rules of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) properly.

As per Rule 38(7) of the BCCI the inquiry is deemed to have started the moment the commissioner of inquiry was appointed. Hence it cannot be said that kale was suspended before the commencement of inquiry, BCCI counsel M Hartalkar said in his argument.
The lower court had yesterday issued temporary injunction restraining the board from suspending the player from cricket matches including the Ranji plate division and other tournaments conducted by the BCCI on the grounds that kale was not given a hearing and was suspended even before the commencement of inquiry.
After today's order, kale, who was selected to play in the Ranji Trophy plate match against Orissa in Cuttak, will have to be dropped from the squad.

Bureau Report