A local court in Jammu has directed the Jammu and Kashmir Police to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Mithun Manhas allegedly fabricated his date of birth to gain an advantage in junior-level cricket selections.
Sub-Judge and Special Railway Magistrate Sandeep Singh Sen directed the station house officer of Police Station Nowabad, Jammu, to conduct the inquiry and submit a report before the court by September 3, 2026.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The order came after a complaint was filed by Sudershan Mehta, a former deputy superintendent of police and former Joint Honorary Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. Mehta had approached the court seeking directions for the registration of an FIR under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
The complaint alleged offences including fraud, cheating and forgery in connection with an alleged discrepancy in Manhas’ date of birth. However, the court did not order the immediate registration of an FIR, instead directing the police to first conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations and supporting material.
In its order, the court said it had examined the application and documents submitted by the complainant and noted that a preliminary inquiry was required before police could proceed with the registration of a cognizable offence under the circumstances presented.
The SHO of Nowabad Police Station has been asked to examine the allegations and submit the findings to the court by the stipulated date.
According to the complaint, Manhas allegedly used two different dates of birth to secure eligibility for national-level cricket tournaments in sub-junior and junior categories. Mehta claimed that Manhas’ date of birth in school records differed from information available through cricketing records.
The complaint cited information allegedly received by Mehta through email from Maharaja Hari Singh Agriculture Collegiate School, Nagbani, Jammu, commonly known as MHAC School. According to the school record cited in the complaint, Manhas’ date of birth was listed as December 9, 1977.
The complaint also referred to information allegedly available on the official website of the Delhi and District Cricket Association, where Manhas’ date of birth was said to be listed as October 12, 1979. The difference between the two dates forms the central basis of the allegations.
According to material placed before the court, Manhas was initially a student at Presentation Convent Gandhi Nagar in Jammu before shifting to MHAC School Nagbani on July 27, 1988, while studying in Class 6. The school reportedly identified his admission number as 2236 and recorded his date of birth as December 9, 1977.
Mehta alleged that false statements and fabricated records relating to Manhas’ age had been used to obtain an advantage in junior cricket. The complaint referred to provisions relating to cheating and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and their corresponding sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The allegations remain claims made by the complainant and have not been established. The court’s direction for a preliminary inquiry does not amount to a finding of guilt or wrongdoing against Manhas.
The police inquiry will now examine whether the allegations and supporting material warrant further criminal proceedings. The report is due before the court on September 3.
Manhas, a former first-class cricketer who represented Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi, became the first person from Jammu and Kashmir to be elected president of the BCCI in September last year.
