‘Age fraud’ allegations against Rajvardhan Hangargekar

Omprakash Bakoria, the Maharashtra State Sports Commissioner, has written to the BCCI requesting harsh punishment against India U-19 World Cup-winning member Rajvardhan Hangargekar for age fraud.

Bakoria informed BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a letter dated February 8 that the pacer had changed his birth date from January 10, 2001, to November 10, 2002, and was thus over-age when he played in the just ended U-19 World Cup.

Mr. Rajvardhan Hangangekar’s actions are against the sport’s integrity and ethics. It undermines fair play and harms the nation’s reputation. As a result, you are asked to take harsh measures in accordance with the law,” Bakoria stated.

The letter is also addressed to Riyaz Bagban, secretary of the Maharashtra Cricket Association.

Bakoria went on to say, “According to the investigation and findings, Mr. Rajvardhan Hangargekar began his academic career at Terna Public School in Osmanabad. It is administered by the Maharashtra State Government’s school code.”

The date of Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s birth (10/01/2001) is entered when he registers for the first grade at Terna Public School (primary division) in Osmanabad. According to the school records, Mr. Rajvardhan Hangagekar’s birth date up to seventh grade is 10/01/2001.”

The school, according to the commissioner, made “unauthorized adjustments” to Hangargekar’s birth date.

“His birth date is 10/01/2001, according to the general registration kept by Terna Public School in Osmanabad.” It appears that the headmaster made illegal modifications, and his birth date is recorded as 10/11/2002 at the time of the fresh application for 8th grade.”

It is necessary to obtain approval from the district education officer before any changes to the birth date can be made by the headmaster.” For Mr Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s case, no such approval has been obtained.

As a result, the above modifications are done in excess of authority and amount to cheating and forgery in government documents “According to the top IAS official.

Hangargekar was purchased by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 1.5 crore at the IPL 2022 super auction last week.

It appears that Rajvardhan Hangargekar was given a place in India’s national squad based on a faked record. According to the report of Chief Executive Officer (IAS) Zilla Parishad, Osmanabad, the mentioned player’s birth date is 10/01/2001, and he has thus reached the age of 21 at the time of the event. ” The U-19 team has selected him for participation in ICC (U-19) World Cup 2022 despite this.”

The PTI attempted to call Maharashtra Cricket Association secretary Bagban and Hangargekar for comment, but both were unable to be reached.

Manjot Karla, who hit a match-winning century in the 2018 U-19 World Cup final, was previously barred from playing for Delhi for two years due to age fraud.

Ankit Bawne of Maharashtra was pulled from the India U-19 squad in September 2011 because the date of birth on his passport did not match the one on his birth certificate or the BCCI records. The school, according to the commissioner, made “unauthorised adjustments” to Hangargekar’s birth date.