Ex-BCCI president Anurag Thakur tenders unconditional apology

Thakur, who was present in the court, said he had never intended to file any false information before the apex court and filed an affidavit explaining the circumstances under which the averments made by him led to the initiation of contempt proceedings. 

“I (Thakur) have tendered my unconditional and unqualified apology and I have explained the circumstances. I had not intended to file any false information,” senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing for Thakur, told the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra. 

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, fixed the matter for hearing on April 17 and also exempted Thakur from personal appearance on that day.  The apex court had on January 2 come down heavily on the defiant BCCI brass and removed Thakur and Ajay Shirke as the president and secretary for “obstructing” and “impeding” its directions for overhauling governance in the cricket body. 

The bench had slapped Thakur with contempt and perjury notices for filing a false affidavit over writing to the ICC on the issue of autonomy. During the hearing on Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for BCCI, said they should be allowed to hold a meeting with the state associations to deliberate upon issues which would come up in the upcoming ICC meeting. 

Senior counsel Parag Tripathi, representing the apex court- appointed Committee of Administrators, opposed it and said the meeting can be allowed only when the state associations comply with Lodha panel.