BCCI ombudsman Justice DK Jain fined Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul Rs 20,00,000 each over objectionable remarks made by the two in a chat show, bringing closure to a case which dragged on for more than three months. In his order, Jain wrote that no further action would be taken against Pandya and Rahul, who had missed five ODIs while serving their provisional suspension and had tendered unconditional apologies.
The World Cup-bound players have been ordered to pay Rs 1,00,000 each to “each of the most deserving widows of 10 constables in para-military forces who have lost their lives while on duty, through Bharat Ke Veer App” besides depositing Rs 10,00,000 each in the fund created by the Cricket Association for the Blind.
All payments are to be made within four weeks from the date of the order - April 19, 2019 - failing which “the BCCI may deduct the amount from their match fees”. “I have no hesitation in observing that the remarks made by the players, even by their own admissions, did offend sensitivities, which ought to have been avoided. Hence, they must make amends,” Jain stated in the order.
“Taking into consideration all these aspects, in particular the fact that the players have tendered an apology for the incident without seeking to justify their action, have acknowledged their duty to the society and expressed willingness to hold themselves to the higher standards expected of them and having missed five ODIs, in the interest of justice and fair play, (the fine) would suffice.”
