Pathan group throws Lalit Modi out of RCA

Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was on Monday removed as Rajasthan Cricket Association president after a no confidence motion was passed against him by office-bearers of the rival Amin Pathan group at an Extra Ordinary General Body Meeting (EGM) in Jaipur.

The meeting, chaired by Sports Council chairman J C Mahanti, witnessed chaotic scenes after the Modi faction alleged that vehicles carrying their voters were attacked by armed hooligans of the rival group.

Many of the district officials were badly hurt and not allowed to attend the meeting as they were late in arriving at the venue.

On the other hand, Mahanti, the health secretary and also in-charge of Rajasthan's sports department, said the EGM was conducted under the high court's order, dated February 11 and it started at its scheduled time of 11 am.

He said at that point of time out of 33 units only 23 districts were present, but five were disputed and 17 voted in favour of the no confidence motion while one vote was against it.

Crying foul, Rajendra Singh Rathore, a senior member of the Modi faction and also secretary of the Jhunjhunu District Association said it was a well calculated move.

Asked about the allegations of the Modi faction, Mahanti said the meeting started at 11 am and no one was allowed in after that.

The passing of the no confidence motion against Modi, deputy president Mehmood Abdi, secretary Sumendra Tiwary and treasurer Pawan Goyal has paved the way for fresh elections for these top four posts.

The Sports Act of Rajasthan also specifies that all these four would be debarred from fighting fresh elections.

Pathan, who led the coup against Modi, said it was a clear victory for his team.

But the matter is expected to get murkier as the Modi faction is likely challenge the EGM and its outcome.