BCCI today said ex-IPL chief Lalit Modi will emerge as a clear winner in Rajasthan Cricket Association polls but successfully opposed opening of a sealed envelope containing its results before the Supreme Court which favoured that former players administer the game instead of businessmen.
"We know the result he (Modi) is a clear winner. He has 26 out of 33 votes," the cricket board and rivals of Modi in RCA conceded before a bench comprising justices A R Dave and J S Khehar which deferred for March 4, the next hearing on the issue.
The bench which was about to open the sealed envelope could not proceed further as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Modi's rival for the post of President in RCA R P Sharma along with others vehemently opposed declaration of results for 21 posts saying it will have a far-reaching impact on cricket administration and players.
While a battery of lawyers from both sides were making submissions in high pitch and trading personal charges against BCCI President N Srinivasan and Modi, the bench said "at least a person who has played cricket upto Ranji trophy level should be an office bearer".
Realising that the entire controversy over the RCA polls was turning out to be a battle between Srinivasan and Modi, the bench decided to adjourn the hearing and said, "we will see this matter on March 4".
BCCI's counsel C A Sundaram and senior advocate Haren Raval, appearing for Sharma submitted that Modi, who has been banned for life by cricket board could not have contested the RCA polls and further he has fled to London and is accused of swindling 80 million dollars.
This submission was opposed by Modi's counsel Harish Salve, who alleged that Srinivasan is at the helm of affairs in the BCCI despite his son-in-law facing criminal case in connection with the IPL spot fixing.
