By IANS
Kolkata : Armed with a court verdict that went in his favour, maverick cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya Friday announced he will take on those who "considered the Indian board as their personal property and began a rule of jungle".
"I will go all the way to see that those who consider BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) as their personal property and bend rules for their vested interest are taken to the dock," Dalmiya told a press conference here in the evening.
Earlier in the day, the Calcutta High Court termed as illegal Dalmiya's suspension by the Indian cricket board and ruled that he could contest any cricket body poll from anywhere in India.
Dalmiya was expelled by the BCCI on charges of fund misappropriation and then forced to resign as the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president in December last year.
He had challenged the BCCI in the high court and appealed that he be allowed to contest polls.
Asked about his returning to Bengal body, he said, "CAB is my home. I will be at its service anytime they want me. I stepped down, as I didn't want CAB to be victimised for me.
"Now it is much more important to bring back democracy in the rule of the jungle which is BCCI. Somebody has to fight it. I have chosen to do so."
The verdict comes just ahead of the CAB election due for the end of the month. Friday was the last day of filing nominations for the same but Dalmiya chose not to fight incumbent president Prasun Mukherjee this time.
Upholding Dalmiya's application against the expulsion and ban from the BCCI as ordered by a committee headed by Indian board President Sharad Pawar last December, Justice Indira Banerjee observed that the rule under which he was suspended was not registered and, as such, was illegal.
The BCCI had suspended Dalmiya following allegations of his involvement in misappropriation of fund of the Pakistan-India-Sri Lanka Committee (PILCOM), the organising body of the 1996 World Cup held in the subcontinent.
Following his suspension, Dalmiya stepped down as CAB president, making way for Mukherjee, Kolkata's police commissioner, to be elected unopposed.
Only six months prior to Mukherjee's election, Dalmiya had won a bitterly contested election against his the former and won by five votes despite West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya backing his opponent.
While the BCCI said it would appeal before a division bench for a stay on Friday's verdict, Dalmiya said: "If they move court we will challenge them."
Earlier in the day, Dalmiya filed a counter application to initiate criminal proceedings against the BCCI officials, including president Sharad Pawar, for misleading the court.
His counsel Arindam Banerjee said: "We have filed a perjury case against the Board and the disciplinary committee, which had expelled Dalmiya."
Dalmiya said, "My stand is vindicated and truth has prevailed. It only goes on to prove that the judiciary in India is still vibrant."