The Delhi High Court "ordered restoration of the passport" of
former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Kumar Modi, "paving
the way for his return to India," according to the PTI. A bench of justices Badar
Durrez Ahmed and Vibhu Bakhru "set aside the order revoking Modi's
passport but made it clear that it was not expressing any opinion with
regard to the alleged violations under the Foreign Exchange Management
Act" by him which are being examined separately by the authorities
under FEMA (PTI, 8/27). The PTI also reported the officials of the banned Rajasthan Cricket Association "are now
upbeat with the news" that Modi’s passport
has been restored and he is expected to come to Jaipur soon. There "was an air of optimism" and sweets were distributed among
the office bearers and employees. It was felt that with restoration of Modi’s passport, the RCA would be able
to carry on its fight against the Board of Control for Cricket in India "with more determination" (PTI, 8/27). The PTI reported the future of top Rajasthan cricketers like Pankaj Singh, Robin Bist and Ashok Menaria "hangs in balance as it is difficult for them to even get an inter-state transfer to play for any other state." The time frame for seeking an inter-state transfer ends on Monday "and although some of the top Rajasthan players had offers from other states," they will not be able to seek a transfer as they cannot get a "No Objection Certificate" from their home state. The ball "is now in BCCI’s court to bail those players out, who want to play for another state" (PTI, 8/27).
