Lakshya Sen Age Fraud Case: Supreme Court Stays Investigation Order

Image credits: Courtesy: Reuters

The Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen has been at the center of a controversy surrounding an age fraud case, which has been ongoing since 2022. The case, which was filed by a private complainant, alleges that Lakshya and his brother Chirag's birth certificates were falsified to reduce their ages by about two and a half years, allowing them to participate in junior badminton tournaments and claim government benefits. The complainant, Nagaraja M.G., submitted documents obtained through the Right to Information Act, which included an inquiry report by the Ministry of Youth Affairs that apparently found evidence of Lakshya's father committing forgery.

The Karnataka High Court had dismissed the petitions filed by Lakshya and his family, ordering a further probe into the matter. However, the Supreme Court has now stepped in and stayed the order, bringing relief to the player. The Supreme Court's decision has been seen as a significant development in the case, and it is expected to have a major impact on the player's career. The court's order has also raised questions about the integrity of the Indian sports system and the need for stricter regulations to prevent age fraud. Lakshya and his family have maintained that the allegations are baseless and motivated by personal grudges, and they have welcomed the Supreme Court's decision.

The case has sparked a heated debate about the issue of age fraud in Indian sports, with many calling for stricter measures to prevent such incidents. The Badminton Association of India has also been criticized for its handling of the case, and there have been demands for greater transparency and accountability in the sport. The Supreme Court's decision is expected to be a major setback for the complainant, who had been seeking a thorough investigation into the allegations. The court's order has also raised questions about the role of the judiciary in sports disputes and the need for a more effective system for resolving such cases.

Here are the key points of the controversy: * A criminal case was registered against Lakshya, his brother Chirag Sen, their father Dhirendra K. Sen, mother Nirmala D. Sen, and coach U. Vimal Kumar for allegedly fabricating the birth certificates of the Sen brothers. * The case against Lakshya was based on a private complaint filed by Nagaraja M.G., which led to an FIR being registered in December 2022. * The complainant submitted documents obtained through the Right to Information Act, which included an inquiry report by the Ministry of Youth Affairs that apparently found evidence of Lakshya's father committing forgery. * The Karnataka High Court had dismissed the petitions filed by Lakshya and his family, ordering a further probe into the matter. * The Supreme Court has now stayed the order, bringing relief to the player.

The Supreme Court's decision is expected to have a major impact on the player's career, and it is likely to be seen as a significant development in the case. The court's order has also raised questions about the integrity of the Indian sports system and the need for stricter regulations to prevent age fraud. Lakshya and his family have maintained that the allegations are baseless and motivated by personal grudges, and they have welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. The case is expected to continue, with the Supreme Court set to hear the matter again in the coming months.