Explained: Why Lakshya Sen is fighting an age-fraud case in Supreme Court
Explained: Why Lakshya Sen is fighting an age-fraud case in Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice in a Special Leave Petition filed by badminton player Lakshya Sen, challenging the Karnataka High Court’s order rejecting his plea to quash an investigation into the allegation of fabricating birth certificates to participate in the underage badminton tournament.
Here’s all you need to know:
The Supreme Court has issued a notice in response to Lakshya Sen’s Special Leave Petition (SLP), challenging the Karnataka High Court’s refusal to quash an investigation into alleged age fabrication.
No, the Supreme Court has not stayed the investigation yet. It has only sought responses from the Karnataka government and the complainant, M.G. Nagaraj. The next hearing is scheduled for April 16.
Lakshya Sen and his family approached the Supreme Court after the Karnataka High Court refused to quash the FIR and allowed the investigation to continue.
On February 19, the Karnataka High Court ruled that there was prima facie evidence to continue the investigation against Lakshya Sen, his brother Chirag Sen, their parents, and their coach, U. Vimal Kumar.
A complaint filed by M.G. Nagaraj claims that Lakshya and Chirag’s birth certificates were forged to make them eligible for junior badminton tournaments since 2010.
The FIR was filed in December 2022 based on an order from a metropolitan magistrate. The High Court had initially stayed the probe but later lifted the stay in February 2024.
The complainant claims to have RTI-obtained documents and references a Ministry of Youth Affairs inquiry, which reportedly found Lakshya’s father guilty of fabricating birth records.
Sen’s camp argues that the case is baseless and driven by personal bias. They claim the complainant, M.G. Nagaraj, has a grudge because his daughter was not selected at Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in 2020.
Yes, the defense points to a 2018 Central Vigilance Commission ruling that accepted their birth records and closed the matter. However, the Karnataka High Court found new grounds to continue the probe.
The petitioners’ lawyer failed to present arguments despite multiple opportunities since December 2024. The court refused further delays and lifted the stay on the investigation.
The Supreme Court will hear the case again on April 16, after receiving responses from the Karnataka government and the complainant. Until then, the investigation remains active.
