The Karnataka High Court has greenlighted the continuation of an investigation into Indian badminton sensation Lakshya Sen, along with his brother Chirag Sen, their parents, and coach U. Vimal Kumar. The case revolves around allegations of age fabrication. Justice M.G. Uma rejected efforts to quash the case, citing adequate preliminary evidence for the inquiry to proceed. “When prima facie materials are placed on record which constitute the offenses, I do not find any reason either to stall the investigation or to quash the initiation of criminal proceedings,” the court said.
Origin of Lakshya Sen age fraud case
The controversy took root from a private complaint filed by Nagaraja M.G., leading to an FIR in December 2022. The complaint asserts that their parents and coach falsified the Sen brothers’ birth certificates to make them eligible for junior tournaments starting in 2010. Supporting documents obtained via the Right to Information (RTI) Act are used as evidence in the case. Named in the complaint are also Lakshya’s parents, Dhirendra K. Sen, a former Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach, and Nirmala D. Sen, who stand accused of facilitating this alleged age-related deception.
Lakshya Sen’s side defence of age fraud alligations
In rebuttal, the Sen family and their coach dismiss these claims as unfounded, suggesting they arise from personal vendettas. They insist that the accusations were addressed back in 2018 when the Central Vigilance Commission validated their birth records and concluded there was no cause for action. They argue that the complaint is fueled by Nagaraja’s discontent over his daughter’s unsuccessful bid for admission to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in 2020. Despite these defences, the High Court noted the petitioners’ lawyer had not presented the case effectively, despite several opportunities since December 2024.
Lakshya Sen’s investigation to continue
With the court’s decision, the investigation will resume, casting renewed scrutiny on one of India’s leading badminton figures and his family. This development reopens discussions around ethics in sports and age-related discrepancies, affecting not just the Sen family but also the broader badminton community.
