The Bombay High Court has upheld two arbitral awards directing the BCCI to pay over Rs 538 crore to the former IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala’s stakeholders — Kochi Cricket Private Ltd (KCPL) and Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) — for wrongful termination of the team in 2011. KCPL and RSW were part of the consortium that owned Kochi Tuskers Kerala, an IPL franchise that played just one season. Internal conflicts led to RSW exiting ownership, but both parties pursued claims after the BCCI terminated the team’s contract.
The BCCI terminated the franchise agreement in September 2011, citing failure to furnish bank guarantees by the required deadlines. KCPL disputed this, claiming the BCCI had waived the deadline and the termination was disproportionate. In 2015, arbitral awards were passed in favor of KCPL and RSW, ruling that the BCCI’s termination was wrongful and breached the contract.
The BCCI challenged the awards, arguing the damages were excessive and questioning RSW’s standing. However, the Bombay High Court dismissed BCCI’s challenge, stating it cannot re-evaluate evidence or act as an appellate body over arbitrator’s findings. BCCI has been given six weeks to file an appeal, but if the decision holds, it will be a major legal and financial setback for the cricket board.
This case is significant as it holds the BCCI accountable for its actions towards an IPL franchise, raising questions about transparency and governance in the league’s early years.
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