Saturday, September 21, 2013

LIFE-BAN: TELL PUBLIC THAT DOING NO WRONG MUST BE TREATED WITH A HEAVY HAND AND TO FIND A SCAPEGOAT FOR IT

Life ban against the principles of justice: Sreesanth's lawyer

The former Indian pacer's lawyer Rebecca John has ripped into the ban and said that it would not stand legal scrutiny.

Press Trust of India  | Last updated on Sunday, 15 September 2013 11:03Printfont size-+
New Delhi:  Calling the life ban imposed on S Sreesanth "bizarre", his lawyer Rebecca John said the former India pacer will challenge the BCCI's decision in court as it is "completely against the principles of natural justice".

Sreesanth was banned for life by the BCCI after being found guilty of spot-fixing in the IPL in an internal inquiry conducted by the board's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit chief Ravi Sawani.

"The (BCCI) order is completely against the principles of natural justice," John told ESPNcricinfo.

"It has based its findings on personal interactions with members of Delhi Police as well as taken material from the chargesheet that has been filed by the police before a sessions court.

"If that is so then they should have waited for the court to determine whether or not any of this holds up in legal proceedings," she pointed out.

John described the Sawani report as "loose" and questioned the basis of its findings. (Sreesanth tweets his innocence)

"They just picked up conversations they had with members of Delhi Police where they said Sreesanth and other members of the cricketing community confessed before them. It is a very, very loose report with little or no substance in it," John said.

She asked how the evidence which wasn't enough to keep the accused players in jail, could be considered proof of their guilt by the BCCI. Sreesanth, along with four other cricketers, is currently out on bail after spending quite a few days in jail. (Sreesanth finds support in Kerala)

"The fact is that the sessions court has released players on bail and said none of this adds up as a case. (The court said) it is very, very tenuous - the link between whatever bookie you are saying had a role to play and the players, particularly Sreesanth, and granted him bail," she said.

"And then this BCCI's one-man committee says that Sreesanth is guilty of spot-fixing and hands over a life sentence to him. Not only is it is excessive, it is completely contrary to all principles of natural justice," she added. John said Sawani's findings are based on conversations with policemen who are investigating the case, which cannot be enough to impose a life ban.

"How does he come to a conclusion? By having personal conversations with police officials. And you are basing your findings on these?" she asked.

"If you want to read these audio tapes, which are part of the Delhi Police (evidence) in a criminal trial, the link is so tenuous. You will believe it only because the Special Cell of Delhi Police is saying you will have to believe it in a particular way. In any case these are allegations which have to be assessed, processed and a finding has to be determined by a court of law," John said.

She claimed that the life ban was imposed at the behest of BCCI's President-in-exile N Srinivasan.

"The only reason the life ban was imposed -- Mr Srinivasan was very keen to tell the public and the people of India he was treating (the issue) with a heavy hand and some people had to be made scapegoats," John said.

"What is more annoying form the point of the view of the players is that they have let the big fish get away. What happens to Mr Srinivasan. He is owner of Chennai Super Kings and there is a case of conflict of interest pending in the Supreme Court against him.

"The Bombay High Court recently had called the two-member committee illegal after it cleared Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra (part of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals respectively) from corruption charges," she added.

John said her client has been made a scapegoat in the entire scandal.

"Now when the BCCI, of which Srinivasan is the de facto or de jure head, conducts itself in this kind of fashion and then it hands over these sentences to players, who are soft targets, it is a little bizarre," John said.
For the latest Cricket news, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and get the NDTV Cricket app for Android or iOS

Story first published on: Sunday, 15 September 2013 10:51

3 comments:

  1. She claimed that the life ban was imposed at the behest of BCCI's President-in-exile N Srinivasan.

    "The only reason the life ban was imposed -- Mr Srinivasan was very keen to tell the public and the people of India he was treating (the issue) with a heavy hand and some people had to be made scapegoats," John said.

    ReplyDelete
  2. L Fedeli
    Sep 16 (6 days ago)

    to ootgenquiries, Quentin
    “ and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the Commonwealth of Australia, without fear or favour, affection or ill will. SO HELP ME GOD!
    This is an extract from our Excellency Governor General Alice Louise Quentin Bryce Oath of Office.
    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    Is she a hypocrite or what. An ignorant profane uneducated caprine that can't even say that the judiciaries are above to any laws. There, in the constitution, supreme laws, is a Crime Act 1914 Sect 43 which, you and all the judges of high and supreme courts are wiping their arses and you keep saying "do right to all manner of people? You are a marionette on a string manipulate by the immoral judiciaries.
    Or you want to blame God for not helping you? Do you job, straighten the wrong doing of the judiciaries. They are not Gods but earthling scum.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Emailing: img109.jpg
    Inbox
    x


    L Fedeli
    Sep 12 (10 days ago)

    to Quentin, ootgenquiries, bevan
    So , the duty of our Governor General Alice Louise Quentin Bryce is giving assent to laws passed by our Houses of Parliament and appoint Federal Judges and I strongly believe that include all the judiciaries but cannot interfere or act against their malpractice, corrupt conduct and laws breaching. Hello' I say that all this nauseously sickening affair stink, we have a district court judge whom in collusion with Anthony John Gallagher, Peter Robert James of Grafton 2460 NSW, James W. Meehan, bird of the bush & a Grafton court registrar Chris Dalby, blatantly are in breach of Crime Act 1914 Sect. 43 passed by our Houses of Parliament and assented by former G.G and all in black & white with signatures and our Gracious Excellency Alice Louise Quentin Bryce graciously refuse to intervene. Hello', my darling Gracious Excellency Alice Louise Quentin Bryce, don't you know that doing so, you too are in breach of Crime Act 1914 Sect. 43 which make you too a criminal? Or you think that just because I come from Italy do you reckon that am a second class citizen? I got same right as you and might more then you because I pay my dues from 28 till the age of 74 and all the inept useless parasite whom is paid, very largely, by Australian's taxpayers.
    So do your duty, please & straighten the wrong doing of those earthling scum!
    Graciously respectful yours.
    Lamberto Fedeli
    img109.jpg img109.jpg
    51

    ReplyDelete