The Karnataka High Court has found itself at the center of controversy as it dismisses petitions from badminton star Lakshya Sen, along with his family and coach, U. Vimal Kumar, concerning allegations of age fraud. The court's ruling opens the door for investigations surrounding the authenticity of the birth certificates possessed by the Sen brothers, which are suspected to have been fabricated to allow them to compete unfairly in age-restricted tournaments.
On February 19, Justice M.G. Uma confirmed the court's decision declines to quash the FIR against Lakshya Sen, his parents Dhirendra K. Sen, Nirmala D. Sen, and coach U. Vimal Kumar. The allegations stem from claims made by Nagaraja M.G., who runs a badminton academy. According to his complaint, lodged in December 2022, the defendants allegedly colluded to forge birth certificates, artificially lowering Lakshya's age by two and a half years to gain entry to junior tournaments, which are heavily monitored for age compliance.
The complainant, who states he is motivated by fairness in sport, argued the fabricated documents are also at the center of claims for government benefits accrued through their tournament participation. Evidence for his claims includes documents obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which suggest improper handling of the birth records by officials.
The court's decision to proceed with the investigation stems from what it termed “prima facie” evidence justifying the continuation of the inquiry. According to Justice Uma, “When prima facie materials are placed on record which constitute the offences, I do not find any reason either to stall the investigation or to quash the initiation of criminal proceedings.”
Following the initial complaint, the investigation was temporarily halted when the Karnataka High Court issued a stay order. This stay was lifted after the court observed insufficient legal grounds for the dismissal of the case. The complainants, supported by documents from RTI, claim the birth certificates were falsified to secure competitive advantages, including the receipt of government benefits associated with their sporting successes.
No stranger to controversy, Lakshya Sen has seen success as a professional player, previously ranked as the junior World No. 1 and winning medals at various international events, including the World Championships and Commonwealth Games. Reflecting on the broad ramifications of such allegations, the court highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability within sports.
Interestingly, this case is not isolated when it involves age-related discrepancies. Past incidents of age fraud within Indian badminton include the suspension of Chirag Sen, Lakshya's brother, by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) back in 2016. At the time, Chirag was found to have mismatched birth years on official documents, leading to his eventual suspension.
With the High Court's ruling, the way is now clear for the police to pursue the investigation fully, which has previously been stalled, reportedly due to delays from the petitioners' legal representatives. The court noted multiple opportunities were provided to them to present their arguments, yet the noted delays slowed the process.
This attention to detail is consequential not only for the individuals involved but reflects wider concerns about integrity within sports communities. The echoes of these controversies ripple through players’ reputations, institutions, and even the perceptions of fans and aspiring athletes.
What happens next as this case progresses remains to be seen. The outcome of the investigation could have lasting effects on Lakshya Sen's career and legacy, as well as set precedents for how age verification is handled within competitive sports.