New Delhi, 25 February (HS): The Supreme Court has stayed any preventive action against badminton player Lakshya Sen, his family members and coach in the case of allegations of forgery in birth certificate. A bench headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia has issued notice to the Karnataka government and the complainant in this case.

In fact, MG Nagaraj had complained of forgery in birth certificate against Lakshya Sen, his parents and coach U Vimal Kumar. The complaint states that Lakshya Sen's actual age was reduced by about two and a half years. According to the complaint, this forgery was done to enable Lakshya Sen to participate in badminton tournaments and avail government facilities. Nagaraj had filed a complaint based on the information received under the Right to Information. After this complaint, the trial court had ordered to register an FIR against Lakshya Sen, his parents and coach under sections 420, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code.

The order of the trial court was challenged by Lakshya Sen in the Karnataka High Court in 2022. The Karnataka High Court had put an interim stay on the order to register the FIR, but the High Court dismissed Lakshya Sen's petition saying that despite giving sufficient time to his lawyers, no arguments were put forward. This decision of the High Court has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar