India cricket team all-rounder Hardik Pandya and opener K.L. Rahul were on April 19, 2019, fined Rs 20 lakh each by the BCCI Ombudsman Justice D.K. Jain for their sexist comments on a popular TV show ‘Koffee with Karan’.

In the order, Justice Jain directed the players to pay a fine of Rs 20 lakh each that included a payment of Rs 1 lakh each to “each of the most deserving widows of ten constables in para-military forces who have lost their lives while on duty, through ‘Bharat Ke Veer App.”

Further, Justice Jain also instructed them to deposit Rs 10 lakh each in the fund “created by the Cricket Association for the blind”. All payments are to be made within four weeks from the date of the order.

The Supreme Court-appointed Ombudsman had issued notices to Pandya and Rahul in early April to appear for deposition for their controversial comments on the TV show.

The players, who became subjects of nationwide criticism following their remarks on women were provisionally suspended by the Committee of Administrators (COA) before the suspension was lifted pending an inquiry by the Ombudsman.

The controversial episode that was aired on January 6, 2019, triggered outrage among people, an FIR was also filed against Pandya under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. However, the Jodhpur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court on April 5, 2019, granted interim relief to the Indian cricketer by putting a stay on the proceedings.

[Read Order]