SC mulls inquiry panel for ‘deeper’ probe into affairs of sports activities our bodies

SC on Thursday (April 17, 2025) hinted at appointing an inquiry fee for a “deeper probe” into the affairs of sports activities associations within the nation and stated except for sporting actions “every kind of issues are taking place” in them.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Pictures

The Supreme Court docket on Thursday (April 17, 2025) hinted at appointing an inquiry fee for a “deeper probe” into the affairs of sports activities associations within the nation and stated except for sporting actions “every kind of issues are taking place” in them.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was listening to a plea of two nationwide Kabaddi gamers during which it had beforehand sought views for a CBI probe into the affairs of the Novice Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) and the Worldwide Kabaddi Federation.

“We’re inclined to nominate a fee of inquiry for a deeper probe into the affairs of Kabaddi associations as a result of apart from sports activities actions every kind of issues are taking place in these our bodies. We additionally intend to then develop the scope of fee of inquiry to different sports activities associations,” the bench stated.

Working of sports activities associations

Extra solicitor basic Okay M Nataraj, showing for the Centre, stated in pursuant to the bench’s order of February 4, the gamers have been despatched for the event in Iran, the place they emerged triumphant and gained gold.

So far as the CBI probe is worried, Nataraj stated, modalities have been being labored out.

He sought two extra weeks to work on it following which the bench stated it’ll inquire into the affairs of all state and worldwide sports activities associations within the nation and dissolve them, if a necessity arises.

The highest courtroom allowed the intervention purposes of a number of former gamers and current gamers for giving ideas on the working of sports activities associations and the investigation wanted and posted the listening to 4 weeks later.

Recognition of Worldwide Kabaddi Federation

On February 6, the highest courtroom requested the AKFI administrator and former choose S P Garg at hand over cost to its elected governing physique to permit participant participation in a sporting occasion which was to start out on February 20 in Iran.

The highest courtroom was listening to the plea of Priyanka and Pooja searching for course to AKFI — unaffiliated by the Worldwide Kabaddi Federation — for sending them to Asian Kabaddi Championship.

It beforehand directed the Centre to discover diplomatic channels for the decision of the battle over the popularity of the sports activities associations, most urgently the Kabaddi Federation of India.

“The director, CBI, would recommend an investigation mechanism for efficient home and worldwide probe, with the help of worldwide investigating businesses such because the INTERPOL, into the affairs of the sports activities federation,” it stated.

The highest courtroom additionally sought to know the measures to make sure Kabaddi gamers and different sports activities individuals have been allowed to take part in worldwide competitions, together with the Asian Kabaddi Championship in Iran.

The worldwide federation de-affiliated AKFI in July, final yr, barring Kabaddi groups from collaborating in a number of world occasions.

The ladies gamers, who moved the highest courtroom, sought a course to the Centre to take steps for restoring the affiliation of AKFI.

Two former gamers, who’re Arjuna Awardees, have additionally intervened within the matter and apprised the courtroom in regards to the affairs of AKFI via their counsel senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan.