Supreme Court Denies Lalit Modi's Plea Against BCCI for FEMA Penalty

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea from former cricket administrator Lalit Modi. The plea sought to compel the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pay a Rs 10.65 crore penalty imposed on him by the Enforcement Directorate for violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and R Mahadevan clarified that while the plea was dismissed, Modi retains the right to pursue civil remedies under the law. Previously, the Bombay High Court had already imposed a Rs 1 lakh penalty on Modi, deeming his petition 'frivolous' and 'misconceived.'

The High Court further noted that since the adjudication authority under FEMA imposed the penalty on Modi, the BCCI was not liable to indemnify him. This was supported by a Supreme Court judgment from 2005, defining the BCCI's non-state status under Article 12 of the Constitution. The court also directed Modi to pay the penalty to Tata Memorial Hospital within four weeks.

(With inputs from agencies.)