High Court clears decks for Shetty to file nomination

MUMBAI: Veteran administrator Ratnakar Shetty is free to file his nomination in the upcoming elections of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) after the Bombay High Court on Saturday upheld the decision made by a city civil court to stay a five-year ban imposed on the former treasurer by the state association.

The order has paved the way for Shetty to file his nomination in the elections scheduled for October 18, as a representative of the Bombay Union Sports club. The development also means that Shetty has added to the list of heavyweights, who could join the election race. “I am now a representative of a club affiliated to the MCA. My case had always been that the ban imposed on me was imposed illegally and my stand has been vindicated today,” Shetty told HT.

“I am now preparing to contest in the elections, I have a group in place and will make the necessary announcements soon,” he added.

Shetty had appealed to the city civil court challenging the ban imposed on him in connection with an ‘allegation’ he had made against the MCA pertaining to a case of alleged blackmarketing of tickets during the India-pakistan T20 game held last year in Ahmedabad.

It is learnt that if Shetty does file for the nomination, it would be in the hands of the appointed election officer to take a call on his eligibility, if a member were to oppose the nomination.

Shetty, however, is still not in the clear as he needs to circumvent a clause in the MCA that bars him from contesting the biennial elections as he is employed with the BCCI, a by-law, he said, he will challenge soon.

“The election process begins on October 10. There is ample time to make the necessary requests. We will challenge the clause. I have contested elections before as well even though I was an employee of BCCI then, don’t think it should be a problem now,” Shetty said.

The MCA can appeal the ban in the Supreme court, however according to sources, the MCA might not want to appeal further as a suit for damages worth R 50 lakh was also issued by Shetty.

The MCA though has taken a reticent stand stating that the managing committee is yet to deliberate over the issue.

“The managing committee is yet to discuss the matter, we will discuss it in detail and contemplate whether we need to challenge the order. As of now no decision has been taken,” MCA joint secretary PV Shetty said.