Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) has moved the Supreme Court seeking contempt proceedings against N Srinivasan and other BCCI officials for holding a meeting of its working committee to decide on holding Annual General Meeting in March in alleged violation of the apex court directions.

The CAB's petition, filed through its Secretary Aditya Verma, seeking contempt action against Srinivasan, BCCI's interim president Shivlal Yadav and Secretary Sanjay Patil, was mentioned before a bench headed by Justice T S Thakur, which said it would give an early hearing to it.

The plea cited media reports to allege that Srinivasan chaired the working committee meeting of the BCCI held on February 8 despite facing disqualification due to the January 22 judgement of the apex court.

"It transpires that in the Working Committee it was decided that the AGM of the BCCI will be held on March, 2 2015 when Srinivasan will chair the meeting and election to the posts of office bearers of BCCI including for the post of President will be held as per the directions of this Court. It was also reported that Srinivasan chaired the Working Committee meeting based on legal opinion," the contempt petition stated.

The CAB contended that Srinivasan continued to have commercial interest in the IPL matches of BCCI and hence he was disqualified from holding the post of BCCI President and President of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA).

"If this Court held Srinivasan disqualified from contesting for the post of President, BCCI until he has any commercial interest in the events of BCCI (then) it goes without saying that he is disqualified as on date to hold the post of President BCCI or be involved in working of BCCI as per the order of this court dated January, 22 2015," the petition said.

"By attending and chairing the Working Committee meeting of the BCCI on February 8 Srinivasan had acted in open defiance of the orders of this Court and in gross contempt.

The decision to chair the AGM fixed on March 2, 2015 is also a willful and deliberate act of contempt of the order of this Court," the plea said.

The petition contended that Yadav, who is the interim President of Board, was directed by the apex court to discharge the functions of BCCI President, also committed contempt by allowing Srinivasan to chair the working committee meeting.

"BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patil committed contempt by inviting Srinivasan to the working committee meeting," it said.

The plea said the order was clear and did not give rise to any ambiguity but there was deliberate misinterpretation of the scope of the order.

The contempt petition mentioned the relevant portion of the January 22 judgement by which the amendment to Rule 6.2.4 of the BCCI allowing an office-bearer to have commercial interest in IPL and Champions League was held as void.

The court had said that "no one who has any commercial interest in the BCCI events including the 1st respondent (Srinivasan) shall be eligible for contesting the elections for any post whatsoever and that the disqualification for contesting elections applicable to those who are holding any commercial interest in BCCI events shall hold good and continue till such time the person concerned holds such commercial interest or till the committee appointed by this court considers and awards suitable punishment to those liable for the same; whichever is later".

PTI