Published: February 2, 2026 at 8:36 pm
In a ruling which had raised quite a few eyebrows, HCA ombudsman Justice (retd) Suresh Kumar Kait has directed the cricket body to allow Amarnath, who had lost the election in 2023 by one vote, to take charge as president within a week’s time.
Ever since the arrest of incumbent president A Jaganmohan Rao and two other office-bearers last year, the posts have been lying vacant. Vice-president Sardar Daljeet Singh has been officiating as interim president.
“The post of president cannot be kept vacant for a longer period. Undisputedly, respondent No.2 (Jagan) had secured 63 votes, whereas, next to him the petitioner secured 62 overs for the post of president in the election held on 20.10.2023. Accordingly, I hereby declare the petitioner (Amarnath) as president of respondent No.1 HCA. Consequently, the respondent No.1 is directed to allow the petitioner to take charge for post of the president of HCA within a week from today. He shall continue on the said post for remaining period,” ruled Justice Kait in his 12-page order dated February 2.
The Ombudsman also removed Jagan from the post of president. “In view of the above facts and circumstances, I am of the view that respondent No.2 does not deserve to hold the post of the president of respondent No.1 (HCA) after having so much serious allegations against him which is misconduct on his part. Accordingly, I hereby remove respondent No.2 from the post of president,” he wrote in his ruling.
Justice Kait also noted that “while granting bail to respondent No.2, the Hon’ble High Court has directed that he shall not enter into the office of HCA, stadium, TCA office or any other cricket stadium or premises connected with the investigation. In fact, he is not performing duty of any post as on date and this situation likely to be continued for longer period. Moreover, he has already by suspended by the respondent No.1 association.”
The Ombudsman also said Jaganmohan had not been able to prove to him that there was no forgery of documents. “It is not in dispute that the elections of HCA on 20.10/2023 conducted under the supervision of Hon’ble Justice L Nageswara Rao. But during scrutiny of the documents of the candidates, no one had raised any objection, therefore, accepted as prima-facie to be true and genuine. Accordingly, it cannot be said that all documents furnished before Hon’ble Justice Nageswar Rao’s committee was genuine. Moreover respondent No.2 failed to prove before me that there was no forgery of documents in representing Sri Chakra Cricket Club while contesting elections of HCA.”
He also said, “Respondent No.2 has also failed to establish its case regarding misappropriation of funds and financial irregularities included misappropriation of funds while on the post of president of the respondent No.1”
The order was reserved on January 31 and pronounced on February 2.
Amarnath, who is the secretary of Galaxy Cricket Club, had filed a petition with the Ombudsman a couple of months back saying that as Jaganmohan had fabricated documents to contest the elections and was later arrested by the police, he could no longer hold the post of president.
I will work to restore respect of all club secretaries, says Amarnath
“I had not challenged the election result earlier as I was very upset. I had lost by one vote, and it hurt me badly to know that the club secretaries had elected someone who was a rank-outsider. Therefore, I lay low since then. Also, I had no idea that Jagan had resorted to such a cheap trick to contest the election,” Amarnath told Khel Khiladis.com on Monday.
“But once Jagan was arrested and the forgery came to public notice, I decided to contest the election result. I had filed a prayer with the Ombudsman, and he has been kind enough to go through the entire process and render justice to me,” he said.
I will relentlessly work for the development of Telangana cricket and get back the glory and the lost name we had in the past, said former Customs and Central Excise player Amarnath
Amarnath, who had played for Customs & Central Excise in the HCA leagues, said: “I’ve been given the responsibility of taking over the HCA presidentship by the Ombudsman. I will relentlessly work for the development of Telangana cricket and get back the glory and the lost name we had in the past. I will see that cricket will improve in the districts and at grassroot level. We will scout and discover genuine talent and promote cricket all over Telangana.
“We will also work in restoring the respect of all club secretaries and improve the overall facilities for cricketers, both men and women.”
Amarnath also said that he owes a lot to former cricketer and BCCI president N Shivlal Yadav. “Shivlal is my godfather and I owe it all to him,” he said.
But not everyone seems to be happy in the HCA with the ruling. “It is not a proper order. Such a thing has never been done in the HCA. The proper way was to hold fresh elections for the vacant posts,” said a former office-bearer.
Will everything fall in order, or will there be more twists and turns in the tale?
Only time will tell.
