The Bombay High Court has raised serious questions about the security of the IPL.
The Bombay High Court has slammed the state government for not paying the fee on time despite the exemption of police security fee for the IPL matches held in Maharashtra. During the hearing of a PIL filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali, the High Court asked several pointed questions to the state government. Court said why fee relaxation for ‘IPL’?
The High Court further said that when you (the government administration) are increasing the rate of water tax etc. even for the poor living in the slums, then why relax the police security fee for the rich cricket association? The court asked the state government why it waived over Rs 14 crore dues since 2011. The court has sent a notice to the state government and sought a reply within two weeks.
The IPL tournament is a fully professional competition between privately owned cricket teams. This does not include national or international teams. However, the State Government vide GR dated June 26, 2023 has increased the already fixed police security fee for each IPL match at Rs. 25 lakhs reduced to Rs. 10 lakh has been decided. Not only this, the exemption decision has been implemented with retrospective effect from 2011. That means only 14 crore 82 lakh rupees outstanding fee has been waived.
RTI activist Anil Galgali has filed a PIL stating that the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has benefited from the decision, but the Mumbai Police Force and the government exchequer have suffered a loss of Rs 14.82 crore.
It was heard before a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar on Thursday. The bench then expressed surprise that as per the previous government’s decision, the fee for T20 and ODI matches was 75 lakhs and the fee for Test matches was 60 lakhs, but now the state government has reduced the fees. Up to Rs 10 lakh only. The bench ordered that the state home secretary clarify the entire matter in an affidavit and also give the details of dues owed to the MCA so far and adjourned the hearing.
What is the matter?
In Maharashtra state politics, in a bid to do something for cricket, leaders of all parties have given huge concessions to police security fees for cricket matches. The IPL match fee has been fixed at just Rs 10 lakh instead of Rs 70 lakh. Due to which the organizers have suffered losses and the police administration has to lose crores of rupees. Interestingly, the government decision issued in the year 2023 with retrospective effect from 2011 has cost the Mumbai Police crores.
Fixed rates of police settlement fee
On 26 June 2023, the Government of Maharashtra fixed the rates of charges for police escort provided for cricket matches. Interestingly, the settlement fee was implemented across the state from 2011 onwards. Currently the fee for T20 and IPL is Rs 70 lakh, which has been reduced to Rs 10 lakh. The fee for One Day International matches is Rs. 75 lakhs reduced to Rs. 25 lakh, while the Test match fee is currently Rs. 60 lakhs reduced to Rs. 25 lakh has been made. 50 lakhs for T20 and IPL in Nagpur, Pune and Navi Mumbai, 50 lakhs for One Day Internationals and 40 lakhs for Test matches. The fee was fixed. This information was given by Ad VT Dubey
Political pressure on the government
This decision of the government will deal a big blow to the Mumbai Police. The Mumbai Cricket Association, which has not paid interest of Rs 15 crore despite issuing 35 reminder letters, will get a direct benefit of around Rs 13 crore from the government’s new decision. After the implementation of the government’s decision from 2011, instead of 15 crores, the fee will be 2 crores. In the last Mumbai Cricket Association elections, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, on behalf of all party candidates, offered Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Rs. 14.83 crore requested to waive the outstanding fee.
The balance has not been paid
The Maharashtra government has not paid the remaining Rs 3.90 crore to the Mumbai Cricket Association even after giving a bumper discount. After the government order, the reduced fee is Rs. 10.93 crores. Total outstanding amount Rs. 14.83 crores.
Opposition to the Government’s decision
Anil Galgali has written a letter demanding cancellation of the government’s decision. He said that this decision is wrong and weakens the police administration. Galgali has alleged that the Mumbai Cricket Association’s election fee arrears debate and today’s government decision are fixing. Any government increases the fee, but the government has given a huge discount of 85 percent for the first time, which is wrong and Galgali has demanded a high-level inquiry into it.
