Prominent Cricket Administrator Faces Legal Action After Court Rejections
In a significant development that has shocked the cricketing community, Kanaiyalal Contractor, the 82-year-old president of Surat District Cricket Association, was arrested on Thursday by the Surat Economic Offence Wing in connection with a major cheating case. The arrest came after both the Gujarat High Court and the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail applications, leaving him with no legal recourse to avoid detention.
The Elaborate Forgery Scheme Uncovered
According to police officials and court documents, the veteran cricket administrator allegedly orchestrated an elaborate scheme involving document forgery and financial fraud. The case centers around accusations that Contractor created a fake General Power of Attorney in the names of his brother Hemant Contractor and sister-in-law Nayna Contractor, without their knowledge or consent.
The complaint, filed with Surat Crime Branch on October 24, 2024 by Nayna Contractor (64), widow of the late Hemant Contractor, detailed how the accused allegedly forged signatures of multiple family members between 2009 and 2021. The forged documents included signatures of late Hemant Contractor, their mother Dayiben Contractor, and Naynaben Contractor herself.
Using this fabricated power of attorney, Kanaiyalal Contractor allegedly mortgaged family property to a private finance firm and secured a substantial loan of Rs 2.92 crore. Investigators revealed that the money was purportedly used for personal purposes without informing the other partners of their jointly-run construction firm, Kanaiyalal Construction.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation Details
The financial irregularities came to light when the finance firm began issuing notices for pending dues to all partners of Kanaiyalal Construction partnership. The accused also allegedly failed to pay loan instalments amounting to Rs 65 lakh, further complicating the financial situation for all parties involved.
Following the complaint registration, Surat Crime Branch booked Kanaiyalal Contractor under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code:
- Section 420 (cheating)
- Section 465 (punishment for forgery)
- Section 467 (forgery of valuable security or will)
- Section 468 (forgery for cheating)
- Section 471 (using as genuine a forged document)
After the case was registered, the cricket administrator sought anticipatory bail from the Surat district court, which was rejected. His legal team then approached the Gujarat High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court, but both higher courts dismissed his bail applications, paving the way for his arrest.
Ongoing Investigation and Cricket Connections
Surat Deputy Commissioner of Police (Economic Offence Wing) Karanraj Vaghela confirmed the arrest and provided additional details about the investigation. "We have arrested Kanaiyalal Contractor in a cheating case. The accused did not inform his firm's partners and prepared a fake power of attorney, forging their signatures, to obtain a loan," stated Vaghela.
The DCP further revealed that investigators are working to uncover the complete picture of the financial scam. "We have launched a probe and are trying to identify others involved in the scam. We will also try to discover where the accused had spent the loan amount," he added.
The case has additional significance in cricketing circles as the Contractor family owns the Lalbhai Contractor Cricket Stadium in Surat, which houses the office of the Surat District Cricket Association. This connection has brought unwanted attention to the local cricket administration during a time when the sport is growing rapidly in the region.
The arrest of such a prominent figure in Surat's sporting community has sent shockwaves through both the business and cricketing circles, raising questions about governance and financial transparency in sports administration. As the investigation continues, more details are expected to emerge about the extent of the alleged financial irregularities and their impact on the local cricket community.
