The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notices to the Union Sports Ministry and the Board of Control for Cricket in India on the petition filed by cricket star Ajay Jadeja challenging the five-year ban imposed on him by the Board as well as a notice from the Government regarding withdrawal of the Arjuna award.

Justice Vijender Jain, after a preliminary hearing on the petition, which runs into over 800 pages, issued notices to the respondents and asked them to file their replies by March 29, when the case would be heard again. Jadeja, who was indicted by CBI for his alleged nexus with the bookies in connection with the match-fixing scandal, sought quashing of the CBI report and the report of the Madhavan Committee appointed by the BCCI. Former captain Mohammed Azharuddin who was banned for life, has already challenged the Board's decision in a Hyderabad court.

Jadeja contended the CBI had "wrongly" concluded that he had nexus with the bookies and claimed he never had fixed a match. Challenging the findings of Madhavan, which concurred with the CBI report against Jadeja, Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma and Manoj Prabhakar, Jadeja said he has been victimised.

After the BCCI imposed a ban on him, the Sports Ministry had issued notices to Jadeja, Azharuddin and Prabhakar asking them to show cause why the Arjuna award given to them should not be withdrawn. Jadeja got the Arjuna Award in 1997, while Azhar and Prabhakar got the same in 1986 and 1993 respectively.

© PTI