Thakur says sorry to Supreme Court

Former BCCI president and BJP Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur on Monday tendered an “unconditional and unqualified apology” in Supreme Court in the contempt proceedings initiated against him for attempting to use the ICC route to stall its implementation. Thakur, who was personally present before a Bench of Justices Dipak Misra, A. M. Kanwilkar and D. Y. Chandrachud was represented by Additional Solicitor General P. S. Patwalia who said the contempt proceedings against him should be disposed off at the earliest as it was affecting his public life. “I have filed an affidavit tendering an unconditional and unqualified apology. I never intended any disrespect to the court or its order. I have expressed my sincere regret. This is affecting my everyday life since I am a public person,” the ASG said. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal appearing for BCCI and various state bodies and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing Centre, pleaded that the BCCI and its affiliate bodies be allowed to hold a meeting, saying that it involves an anticipated revenue of `3,860 cr for the BCCI, which it may otherwise stand to lose if proper negotiations are not held. However, the plea was opposed by senior counsel Parag Tripathi appearing for the Justice R. M. Lodha panel and amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam, on the ground that neither the BCCI nor the State bodies have so far bothered to implement even one single recommendation of the panel. Mr Tripathi, told the bench that the Committee of Administrators appointed by the top court can negotiate on behalf the BCCI at the ICC meeting. The bench while agreeing to hear Anurag Thakur’s plea on March 17, posted other applications for hearing on March 20.