Bombay High Court upholds ₹538 cr award to defunct Kochi IPL franchise against BCCI
The ruling passed on Tuesday (17 June) comes in a long-standing dispute over the team's abrupt termination from the Indian Premier League fourteen years ago.
A single-judge bench of Justice R.I. Chagla dismissed BCCI's challenge to the award, ruling that the court could not re-examine the merits of the arbitral tribunal's conclusions.
'BCCI's dissatisfaction as to the findings rendered in respect of the evidence and/or the merits cannot be a ground to assail the award,' the court observed.
'The arbitrator's conclusion that the BCCI's termination of the Kochi franchise was a repudiatory breach of contract would call for no interference… this is based on a correct appreciation of the evidence on record.'
The court further held that BCCI, by continuing to deal with the franchise and accepting payments, had effectively waived the strict requirement for furnishing a fresh bank guarantee by the March 2011 deadline.
It also dismissed BCCI's objections under the Indian Partnership Act and upheld the validity of arbitration proceedings initiated by Kochi Tuskers Kerala co-owner Rendezvous Sports World (RSW).
Finding no patent illegality or jurisdictional error, the court allowed Kochi Cricket Pvt. Ltd (KCPL) and RSW to withdraw ₹ 100 crore deposited earlier by BCCI.
The cricketing body has been granted six weeks to file an appeal, likely before the division bench of the high court or the Supreme Court.
The Kochi IPL franchise was awarded in 2010 for ₹ 1,550 crore, with payments scheduled over a 10-year period. But the team, backed by a consortium led by RSW and operated by KCPL, played only the 2011 season.
Its ownership included Anchor Earth Pvt. Ltd. (31.45%), Parinee Developers Pvt. Ltd. (30.27%), Rendezvous Sports World (10%), Anand Shyam Estates (9.31%), and Vivek Venugopal (5%).
In 2011, the franchise failed to furnish a fresh 10% bank guarantee of around ₹ 156 crore for the upcoming season, citing internal ownership disputes, venue availability concerns, and regulatory delays. BCCI, while invoking an existing ₹ 153 crore guarantee, demanded a new one within six months.
In September 2011, BCCI terminated the franchise agreement and encashed the earlier guarantee.
RSW and KCPL initiated arbitration proceedings in 2012, arguing that the termination was wrongful and that BCCI's conduct showed a continued willingness to work with the franchise despite the guarantee delay.
In 2015, a tribunal led by former Supreme Court Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti ruled in favour of the franchise, awarding ₹ 384 crore to KCPL as compensation for loss of profits and directing BCCI to return ₹ 153 crore to RSW with interest and costs.
BCCI challenged the award in the Bombay High Court, arguing that the tribunal had exceeded its jurisdiction and had awarded excessive damages in violation of contractual limits. It also questioned the locus of RSW under the Partnership Act.
In 2018, the High Court granted a temporary stay on the award, prompting the Kochi franchise to approach the Supreme Court, which directed BCCI to deposit ₹ 100 crore as a condition for continued stay.
With Tuesday's ruling, the Bombay High Court has now upheld the award, leaving BCCI with the option of challenging the decision.
The Kochi case is one among several high-stakes legal battles involving terminated IPL franchises.
In 2012, BCCI terminated the Deccan Chargers over financial defaults. An arbitrator later awarded the team ₹ 4,814 crore for wrongful termination. However, the Bombay High Court set aside the award in 2021, capping BCCI's liability at ₹ 34 crore plus interest.
Similarly, Pune Warriors India, owned by Sahara Adventure Sports, was terminated in 2013 after failing to submit a ₹ 170.2 crore bank guarantee. That matter also led to legal proceedings.
Despite these setbacks, IPL continues to grow in commercial strength.
According to the Brand Finance IPL 2024 valuation report, the league's cumulative brand value rose 13% to $12 billion. From a $2 billion valuation in 2009, it crossed the $10 billion mark in 2023.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
BCCI Under RTI: Long-Stalled Sports Bill To Be Tabled Today, Likely To Clear Parliament
Last Updated: Despite not receiving government funding, the BCCI, like other national sports bodies, will have to comply with regulations set out by the sports ministry once the bill is enacted Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya is set to introduce the highly anticipated National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The legislation, focused on athlete welfare and systemic reform, represents a significant step towards transparency and accountability in Indian sports governance. A key provision of the bill is to bring all national sports bodies, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. This long-debated and previously resisted move is expected to finally become law, ending years of delay and political pushback. A previous attempt during the UPA era by then sports minister Ajay Maken failed due to opposition within his own party. Despite not receiving government funding, the BCCI, like other national sports federations, will be required to comply with the regulations set out by the sports ministry once the bill is enacted. This is particularly significant as the Indian cricket team prepares to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will place the BCCI within the framework of a national sports federation. 'It wasn't easy to bring the BCCI on board, but extensive dialogue was held between lawmakers and the BCCI top brass to ensure their cooperation," a source involved in the legislative process told CNN-News18. 'The government's intent is clear: to instill accountability and transparency across all sports federations in the country." Once enacted, the bill will mandate all recognised sports bodies to comply with the RTI Act, opening up access to decision-making processes, financial records, and governance structures to the public. The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, aims to overhaul the Indian sports ecosystem through a series of structural reforms, including legal clarity, gender equality, athlete empowerment, and enhanced public oversight. More than just a legal framework, the bill signals the dawn of a new era where athletes are not just competitors but active stakeholders in India's sporting future. India's sports sector has long been plagued by controversies such as mismanagement, opaque elections in sports federations, and poor athlete representation. With over 350 court cases pending across federations, the judiciary has consistently urged the government to legislate a comprehensive governance structure. Efforts to introduce such a bill date back to 2011, but progress was repeatedly blocked by legal challenges, shifting political priorities, and unresolved court interventions. The Delhi High Court's endorsement of the 2011 Sports Code and pending litigations around the 2017 draft further stalled momentum. Officials believe that beyond governance reform, the bill will also contribute to employment generation, better protection for athletes—especially women and minors—and a more ethical, competitive, and globally aligned sporting culture in India. First Published: July 23, 2025, 01:42 IST Latest News Bangladesh Air Force's F-7 BGI that crashed was a Chinese copy of the MiG-21 Breaking News Sports BCCI Under RTI: Long-Stalled Sports Bill To Be Tabled Today, Likely To Clear Parliament Cricket Harmanpreet's Century, Gaud's 6-Fer Help IND Beat ENG, Clinch ODI Series 2-1 Hollywood Benny Blanco Posts Selena Gomez's Sleeping Pics On Her Birthday: 'Never Waking U Up' news DOJ Seeks Meeting With Epstein's Ex Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump Calls It An "Appropriate" Move latest news
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Ministry says BCCI to come under sports governance bill, board says will wait and watch
The Government is all set to introduce the National Sports Governance Bill in Parliament on Wednesday, which will bring the Indian cricket board under its preview along with the 45 National Sports Federations (NSFs). Once the Bill becomes law, the BCCI will have to be recognised by a proposed National Sports Board, Sports Ministry sources said. 'Like all National Sports Federations, the BCCI will have to comply with the law of the land once this Bill becomes an Act. They don't take ministry funding but an Act of Parliament applies to them… They will remain an autonomous body like all other NSFs but their disputes, if any, will also come to the proposed National Sports Tribunal, which will become the dispute resolution body for sports matters ranging from elections to selection,' the sources said. The move is significant because the BCCI is an autonomous sports body registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. It is not among the 45 recognized NSFs, which includes major Olympic sports and also indigenous sports like Yogasana, Kho-Kho and Atya Patya. When contacted, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told The Indian Express: 'The BCCI's official stand is that we will wait for the Bill to be tabled in Parliament and get more details of its content. Then we will see what has to be followed.' The BCCI has in the past refused to come under the National Sports Federation category as it doesn't take funds from the Sports Ministry. In recent years, they have also pointed to how they have accepted the Lodha panel reforms on governance, mandated by the Supreme Court, which primarily stipulated that no office-bearer can have a tenure of more than six years at a stretch, with the maximum being nine. Sports Ministry sources, however, said that with India making a bid to host the 2036 Olympics, the proposed Bill is aimed at bringing more transparency, athletic-centric reform and a quick resolution of disputes. Significantly, T20 cricket has also been included as a medal sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials had flagged concerns over governance issues at the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), including the doping menace and poor performances at the Olympics. Under the National Sports Governance Bill, the National Sports Board will be set up to oversee recognition and suspension of NSFs. The members of the Board, including a chairperson, will be appointed by the central government. The Board will also be responsible for safeguarding of athletes rights and fair and timely elections in the NSFs. In cases where federations are suspended or lose recognition, the Bill authorises the Board to appoint ad-hoc administrative bodies. Sources, however, stressed that the Bill will not mean that the Government aims to control NSFs. 'The Government only wants to ensure good governance and ethics,' they said. Can Binny continue as Prez? The Bill also introduces a provision to increase the upper-age cap to 75 years, from the previous 70, for an official. This means individuals between 70 and 75 may serve a full term if allowed by relevant international statutes. If the BCCI comes under the NSF umbrella, its current president Roger Binny who turned 70 on July 19, may be able to continue in his post. As per BCCI's constitution, which was approved by the Supreme Court, no person can hold any post after turning 70. NSFs will also come under the Right to Information Act. The Bill also proposes the formation of a separate entity called National Sports Tribunal (NST). This body will fast track and resolve conflicts between different stakeholders in the sporting ecosystem, including officials, athletes and coaches. The NST can be only challenged in the Supreme Court. The tribunal, however, will not have jurisdiction to adjudicate disputes arising during Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or events organised by international federations. It will also not have powers to decide on anti-doping cases for which the National Anti-Doping Agency's independent disciplinary and appeals panel exist. Along with the National Governance Sports Bill, the newly proposed National Anti-doping Bill is also set to be introduced Wednesday. The anti-doping Bill comes at a time when India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2023 testing figures among countries which analysed 5,000 or more samples. (With Venkata Krishna B)
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
England vs India: After three Tests of individual achievements, visitors face hour of reckoning
So far on this England tour, India has aced the numbers game and ruled the individual statistics charts. Skipper Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant lead the run-makers' list. Indians have hit eight hundreds, including one double ton. Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep are the top three wicket-takers and have four five-wicket hauls among themselves. Among the many records broken, there is also one about coach Gautam Gambhir – he has smiled the most on this tour. But will he have the last laugh? Manchester would decide that. The series that England lead 2-1 presents contrasting possibilities for the next two Tests. What's the best or the worst that can happen to this Indian team in transition? Since neither of the two teams prefers draws, here are the permutations and combinations. If it finishes 3-2 in England's favour – it will be the classic 'boys played well, they will learn' tame end to the tour. No tears will be shed, neither of joy nor sorrow. Smiles 🔛 Gearing 🆙 for the 4th Test in Manchester 🏟️#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND — BCCI (@BCCI) July 22, 2025 In case India win both the games, make it 3-2 and pull off a dramatic comeback, the open-top bus in Mumbai might have to be readied. That scoreline will provide the writing on the wall – buffering is over, the new team is well and truly downloaded and the transition smoothly completed. Don't be surprised if there are calls to replace Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODIs too. But what if everything goes horribly wrong for India in Manchester and then at The Oval next month and England win the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a 4-1 margin? The knives will be out but the core of this young team would be spared. Captain Gill has runs, and sympathy. It's just one series, they will say. But the other team in transition, the coaching squad, might have to face repercussions. Coach Gambhir's record would get murkier. A 4-1 loss would mean India, under Gambhir, would have lost a third straight series. Played 13, Lost 10, Won 2, Drawn 1 aren't numbers that bring a smile on anyone's face, certainly not Gambhir's. But this young team doesn't seem to be the kind that would spend a disproportionate amount of time thinking of worst-case scenarios. It helps that virtually every key India player in this series has at least one sparkling individual performance to trigger the necessary dopamine and drown doomsday thoughts. Since captain Gill is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of performance, he has an aura of unquestionable authority around him. Same is the case with his deputy Pant who, with two hundreds in the first Test of the series, announced his entry into the team's decision-making group. The two go back a long way, they share a cordial working relationship. If Gill is walking up the dressing room stairs, Pant can ask him to take his wicket-keeping gloves along. 'When you have a great relationship outside the field, it helps … We were having fun, having chats, talking about the game, and staying relaxed. At the end of the day, we both knew what we wanted to do,' Pant has said about their bond. The two seniors – Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja – have been incredibly consistent with their contributions to the bigger cause. They too seem to be relaxed, often seen talking to juniors in their respective departments – spin and pace. Jadeja keeps mentoring Washington Sundar, Bumrah is constantly in the ears of Siraj, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna. Bumrah and Jadeja can also be seen having long discussions with coach Gambhir and even sharing a joke or two. The other day at the nets, Gambhir beamed as Sundar came across for a chat. Even when the players are in the middle of their 'football-meets-volleyball' fun drill, the coach chips in with quips for the team to be in splits. So far, so good. Now comes Manchester, a damp pitch and the constant threat of showers. Two days before the Test, batsmen were struggling to middle the ball at the nets. Intermittent rain had added moisture in the air, and the ball was jagging around. Siraj would beat Pant and, in his best theatrical tone, say, 'Welcome to Manchester.' Pant would answer back: 'Say, welcome to England, this is the first time we are facing English-like conditions.' After three Tests on very 'Asian' tracks minus the spin, Manchester might be different. Showers are expected on the first day of the Test. The conditions could inspire a pacer to bowl the spell of his life. A batting collapse on Day 1 is the perfect tempering needed for this series. India needs to be guarded as it can all unravel. So far in the series, they have played exceptional cricket but the reason they are trailing in the series is their many momentary periods of miscalculation and slip-ups. Here's a list: First Test – Gill's loose shot, lower order's casual batting, dropped catches, Jadeja's brain-fade against reverse-sweeps, captain allowing England to score 371 in the final innings. Second Test: Though India won the Test in Bumrah's absence, there was a period of play when Gill got carried away by short-ball tactics against Jamie Smith. Third Test: Pant's run-out in the final over before lunch in an attempt to allow KL Rahul to get his hundred and the bizarre knock by Gill on the fourth evening. This has been a series of fine margins with India lacking in detailing. In the three Tests, the young team has been indulged, their mistakes pardoned. Now comes the moment of truth.
