NEW DELHI: FMSCI, the national governing body of Indian motorsports has banned its own president J Prithiviraj from officiating for three years in the wake of the organisational debacle that led to the death of three, including a minor, during the ill-fated Rally of Jodhpur.
The FMSCI has also banned rally organisers Maxperience and their representative Arvind Balan for three years till December 31, 2022. Prithviraj, who is part of the Coimbatore Auto Sports Club, was assisting the race promoters in the conduct of the event as clerk of the course (COC).
A Rs 500,000 penalty has also been imposed on Prithviraj’s Coimbatore Auto Sports Club, which will also not be allowed to organise a national championship outside the city until December 31, 2022.
While Prithiviraj will remain FMSCI president, he won’t be allowed to officiate in the national championships for the duration of his ban, PTI reports.
Top rally driver Gaurav Gill had crashed into a trespassing motorcycle carrying three people, including a minor, during the rally in September, forcing the organisers to call off the rally.
Gill, who was charged along with his co-driver under sections 304A (causing death by negligence) and 279 (rash driving on public way), following the tragedy, was granted bail last month in connection with the case.
The five-member FMSCI panel that included past presidents Vicky Chandhok and Akbar Ebrahim, recommended a three-year ban on Prithviraj, the event’s
“The panel’s recommendation is to impose a ban on the COC of the event from officiating as a COC of any National Championship events for a period of 3 years and must officiate as DCOC for one year after 3 years,” read an official FMSCI note, accessed by PTI.
The inquiry panel’s recommendations were passed unanimously by the 10-member council.
Prithivraj expectedly recused himself from the deliberations of the council.
