In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has ordered the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pay ₹539 crore in fines in the Kochi Tuskers Kerala IPL exit case. This decision follows the controversial removal of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise from the Indian Premier League after just one season in 2011.
The BCCI had terminated the contract of the Kochi-based team, alleging that the franchise failed to provide a bank guarantee within the stipulated timeframe. This led Kochi Cricket Private Ltd (KCPL) and Rendezvous Sports World, the franchise owners, to take legal action challenging the termination.
Now, the High Court has upheld the 2015 arbitration ruling, directing BCCI to pay ₹385.50 crore to KCPL and ₹153.34 crore to Rendezvous. BCCI had tried to question the arbitration’s merit and the evidence presented, but the court dismissed their arguments. Justice Riyaz Chagla noted that the arbitration outcome was based on solid evidence and fell well within the legal framework.
BCCI has been granted a six-week period to appeal the verdict, but the court’s decision strengthens the legal standing of Kochi Tuskers Kerala in this long-standing dispute.
The Kochi franchise, which played only in the 2011 season, featured renowned players such as Mahela Jayawardene, Ravindra Jadeja, Brendon McCullum, and Steve Smith. Despite the talent, the team finished eighth out of ten in the points table that season.
