Relief for shuttler Lakshya Sen as Supreme Court stays proceedings in ‘age fraud’ case

“Issue notice, returnable on 16.04.2025. Until further orders, further proceedings in connection with FIR/Crime No.194/2022 dated 01.12.2022 registered by High Grounds Police Station, Bengaluru, Karnataka, shall remain stayed,” the bench directed.

The complainant in this case, who runs a badminton academy, alleged in 2022 that U Vimal Kumar, a badminton coach at Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, colluded with the parents of Lakshya Sen and his brother and forged a birth certificate document in 2010 to allow their participation in tournaments which are restricted to certain age groups and avail of government benefits after taking part in tournaments.

The complainant had produced certain documents obtained through RTI to back his claims.

In 2022, the police lodged an FIR under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 471 (using as genuine a forged record). However, the investigation was not concluded after the Karnataka HC granted an interim stay.

On February 19, the high court had rejected the petitions filed by Sen, his family members, and his coach U Vimal Kumar in connection with the allegations of forging birth certificates. The HC observed that the authenticity of the documents produced before the court was not challenged. “When prima facie materials are placed on record which constitute the offences, I do not find any reason either to stall the investigation or to quash the initiation of criminal proceedings. There are sufficient materials that are placed before the court by the complainant which are the documents that are obtained under the Right to Information Act from the appropriate authority,” it said.

Lakshya Sen, a former junior World No. 1, has won medals at various international events, including the World Championships and Commonwealth Games, and is also an Arjuna Award recipient.