The Court of Special Railway Magistrate, Jammu, has dismissed an application seeking directions for registration of an FIR against Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Mithun Manhas over allegations of discrepancies and alleged manipulation in his date-of-birth records.
The application was filed by former J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) honorary secretary Sudershan Mehta under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, alleging fraud, cheating and forgery in connection with Manhas’s date of birth.
The court, while examining the complaint, supporting documents and police inquiry report submitted by the Station House Officer, Police Station Nowabad, observed that there was no prima facie material to warrant registration of an FIR against Manhas.
According to the inquiry report, Manhas’s date of birth was consistently recorded as September 12, 1977, in his official documents, including educational records, PAN card, Aadhaar card and employment records. The court observed that the complainant had relied substantially on a photocopy of information purportedly obtained from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) website, which was insufficient to establish that Manhas had submitted any fabricated document or made a false declaration before the association.
The order further observed that a mere discrepancy between two entries, without independent evidence of forgery, fabrication or fraudulent intent, cannot by itself constitute a criminal offence.
The court also noted that the complainant had failed to place on record any material demonstrating that Manhas had forged or fabricated documents or knowingly made a false representation with the intention of obtaining an unlawful advantage in cricket.
While dismissing the application as devoid of sufficient merit, the court clarified that the complainant could approach the DDCA, the appropriate authority, for verification of its records and seek action in accordance with law, if warranted.
The order was pronounced on November 6, 2026, by Sandeep Singh Sen, KCS (Judicial), Special Railway Magistrate, Jammu.
Published on Nov 07, 2026
