The Supreme Court has granted interim relief to Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen, staying the Karnataka High Court's order that allowed an investigation into allegations of age fraud. Sen had filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court's decision, which had rejected his plea to quash the investigation.
The investigation stems from a private complaint filed by MG Nagaraj, alleging that Sen's parents, brother, and coach had falsified birth records to enable Sen and his brother to participate in age-restricted tournaments.
The Karnataka High Court had ruled that there was prima facie evidence warranting an investigation, prompting Sen to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's stay order provides temporary relief to Sen, and the matter is now scheduled to be heard on April 16, 2025.
Lakshya Sen gets reassurance in age fraud drama
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Aryama Sundaram argued on behalf of Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen, stating that the Karnataka High Court order was issued without considering Sen's case. Sundaram was joined by fellow senior lawyers Badri Vishal, Varun Joshi, and Ayush Negi in representing Sen's interests.
Lakshya Sen's legal team welcomed the Supreme Court's order, stating that it has provided clarity on the matter. They confirmed that they will proceed with pursuing further legal remedies to resolve the issue.
“The Hon’ble Supreme Court has granted relief by staying the High Court order and further investigation. This brings much-needed clarity to the matter and we remain committed to pursuing our legal remedies,” said Lakshya's legal counsel.
Following the court order, the investigation into the age-fraud allegations against Lakshya Sen and his brother Chirag has been temporarily halted. With this reprieve, the brothers can now shift their attention to their forthcoming tournaments and international badminton commitments.
