Overview

• A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi allowed the BCCI to intervene and directed it to file its position within four weeks.
• In its application, the BCCI contends match-fixing satisfies cheating under Sections 415/417 IPC (now BNS) and is prosecutable under Section 420 due to money spent by fans and sponsors.
• The BCCI cites the Law Commission of India’s 276th Report recommending criminal penalties for match-fixing and sports fraud.
• The appeal challenges a 2022 Karnataka High Court decision that quashed cheating cases from the Karnataka Premier League, holding fixing was not an offence under Section 420.
• Amicus Curiae Shivam Singh informed the bench that the Centre has yet to file its view, and the Court asked it to respond before the next hearing.