Madras High Court nod to conducting celebrity league

Chennai: The Madras high court has declined to restrain Celebrity Cricket League (CCL)  private limited, Hyderabad, from conducting the 2016 Edition of Celebrity Cricket League amongst teams, including the members of various regional film industries in India, scheduled to commence today.

Disposing of applications from Asianet Communications Private Limited and Vijay Television Private Limited, Justice S. Manikumar, however, directed Karbonn Mobiles India private limited, New Delhi, one of the Garnishee, to deposit '67.10 lakh in Indian Bank, High Court branch, Chennai, in a fixed deposit with maximum interest without lien, one week before the final match on February 13, 2016 to the credit of the applicants.

The judge said parties have consented for referring all disputes arising out of  tripartite agreement of  January 21, 2016 before the Arbitrator. On consensus, Justice K. Mohan Ram was appointed Arbitrator.  

The applicants said CCL entered into a broadcasting/telecasting rights agreement of December 27, 2013 with them in relation to 2014 edition of CCL.

They also paid advance to CCL. As per the agreement, the consideration due to CCL was 50 per cent of advertising revenue generated by them from
telecasting the matches   with a further understanding if the consideration due to CCL was less than the amount advanced by them, then the excess amount should be refunded by CCL to them.

The CCL should refund excess of Rs 34.95 lakh to Asianet and Rs 32.15 lakh to Vijay TV. Since, it failed to refund, they filed the present applications.