FIR against Badminton star Lakshya Sen, coach Vimal over age fraud, cheating
Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen, his family and former national coach Vimal Kumar were charged with cheating and age fraud in an FIR filed in Bengaluru.
The FIR, filed on Thursday by M Goviappa Nagaraja, alleged that the 21-year-old reigning Commonwealth Games champion, along with his brother Chirag Sen, had fudged their age to get into playing age-group tournaments since 2010.
The complaint, a copy of which is in possession of PTI, also names Sen's father Dhirendra, a coach with the Sports Authority of India, mother Nirmala and Kumar who has been coaching the duo for more than 10 years.
They have been charged with cheating (Section 420), forgery (468), using a forged document as genuine (471) and acts done by several persons of common intention (34) under the Indian Penal Code.
The Sens, who hail from Uttarakhand, train under Kumar at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru, while the complainant runs another academy in the metropolis.
The complainant alleged that Kumar colluded with Lakshya's parents to forge a birth certificate in 2010. Categorically denying the charges, Kumar told PTI: "It is very annoying. It is cheap stuff. Lakshya has done well and has started training again after a break. It is mentally very disturbing for him."
Currently No. 6 in the world, Lakshya was on Wednesday honoured with the Arjuna Award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He won a World Championship bronze after going down to compatriot Kidambi Srikanth in 2021.
He was also a runner-up in the All England Championships and played a key role in India's historic Thomas Cup triumph earlier this year.
The chief coach of Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, Kumar further said in a statement that the allegations were "baseless, frivolous and made with malicious intent".
"Age verification is the sole prerogative and responsibility of the Badminton Association of India who is sole governing authority for administering the game in India," he said. "All players no matter where they train always represent their respective affiliated state units or the country while participating in any domestic or international tournament."
"My focus over the 30 years as a coach has always been to groom our upcoming youngsters to the best of my ability to bring laurels for our country based on their merit. I therefore deny all these false allegations against me. I would not like to make any further comments in this regard," he added.
As per the complaint, Lakshya's age is 24, while the date of birth (August 16, 2001) registered with the Badminton Association of India makes him three years younger.
His elder brother Chirag, on the other hand, is alleged to be 26, even as his BAI ID makes him 24 (July 22, 1998).
According to the complaint, Lakshya deprived several children from getting access to quality badminton facilities and sponsorships by participating in several tournaments in age group category. The complainant further alleged that their family and the coach spoiled many upcoming talented shuttlers in the region and demanded legal action.
Lakshya and his family are yet to respond on the matter.
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Delhi HC judge transfer: Allahabad HC bar body to go on indefinite strike from Tuesday
Lucknow/Prayagraj (UP), Mar 24 (PTI): The Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Monday announced that it will go on an indefinite strike from March 25 to protest the proposed repatriation of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma to his parent court.
The announcement came after the Supreme Court Collegium confirmed its decision to recommend the transfer of Justice Varma, who is facing an inquiry over alleged discovery of a large sum of cash from his official residence in Delhi.
"Lawyers of the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad will go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday... (over) Justice Yashwant Varma's (proposed) transfer to the Allahabad High Court," bar association president Anil Tiwari told PTI.
"We are also sending a request to bar associations in Lucknow in this regard," he said.
After passing a resolution to this effect during the lunch hours of the court, the lawyers abstained from judicial work for the remaining day.
Addressing reporters after an emergency meeting of the association in the evening, Tiwari said, "The association will fight this issue till the end. The Supreme Court has judicial powers but we have public support."
He said, "22 organisations have given us a letter of support against the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma. Today, the Supreme Court has confirmed the decision of transfer in the meeting of the collegium. This (emergency) meeting was held in view of the Supreme Court administration's decision of transfer."
Tiwari said the lawyers of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association will only resume work after the Supreme Court withdraws its decision.
"Today this battle is being fought by lawyers in India and till the next resolution, the advocates will not work and we are ready to face any kind of consequences. Even if we have to sacrifice our lives to save the judiciary, we are ready to do so... If we have to go to jail, we are ready for that too," he said.
He further said that lawyers will take to the streets on Tuesday.
"The entire democracy is being put at stake to save a judge. We appeal to the government to intervene in this matter," he added.
The bar association also demanded scrutiny of judgments delivered by Justice Varma.
The cash was found at Justice Varma's Lutyens' Delhi residence following a fire on March 14.
The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and the Delhi High Court subsequently issued a series of directives, including the withdrawal of judicial work from Justice Varma on Monday.
