Mithun Manhas faces police probe over DOB fraud allegations

BCCI president Mithun Manhas has come under scrutiny over an alleged discrepancy in his date of birth records. Reports claim that he may have used different birth dates during his younger years to remain eligible for age-group cricket tournaments.

Manhas was a right-handed middle-order batter who played domestic cricket for Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. He had an impressive first-class career, scoring runs at an average of nearly 46. He retired from domestic cricket in 2016 after playing his final season for Jammu and Kashmir.

A Jammu court has directed the Jammu and Kashmir Police to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations concerning Manhas' date of birth records. The complaint was filed by former J&K Police deputy SP and former J&K Cricket Association joint secretary Sudershan Mehta. The inquiry is only a preliminary investigation and does not mean that Manhas has been found guilty.

What is the date of birth dispute against Mithun Manhas?

The complaint against Mithun Manhas concerns an alleged difference in his date of birth records. Sudarshan Mehta, a former SP and former Joint Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, has alleged that Manhas used different birth dates to remain eligible for junior-level cricket tournaments during his playing days.

According to a report by The Bhaskar, Manhas has different dates of birth in various records. The Maharaja Hari Singh Agricultural Collegiate School (MHAC), Nagbani, lists his date of birth as December 9, 1977. However, records on the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) website list his date of birth as October 12, 1979.

Manhas initially studied at Presentation Convent Gandhi Nagar in Jammu before moving to MHAC School, Nagbani, in Class 6 on July 27, 1988. His admission record, with admission number 2236, lists his date of birth as December 9, 1977. The alleged difference between these records has led to the complaint of age fraud.

Who filed the complaint and what does it allege?

The complaint was filed by Sudershan Mehta, a former deputy superintendent of police and former Joint Honorary Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. He alleged that BCCI president Mithun Manhas had used different dates of birth in official records to gain eligibility for junior-level cricket tournaments.

A Jammu court has directed the J&K Police to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations. Sub-Judge and Special Railway Magistrate Sandeep Singh Sen asked the SHO of Nowabad Police Station to investigate the matter and submit a report to the court by September 3, 2026. The court ordered an inquiry before deciding whether to register a criminal case.

According to Mehta's complaint, Manhas' school records at MHAC School, Nagbani, list his date of birth as December 9, 1977, while the DDCA website reportedly lists it as October 12, 1979. Mehta claimed that the difference helped Manhas gain an advantage in junior cricket. However, these are allegations, and the court's order for an inquiry does not mean that Manhas has been found guilty.

What happens next: Police inquiry deadline and possible outcomes

The magistrate has ordered a preliminary inquiry before an FIR can be registered in the Mithun Manhas case. The Nowabad Police have been asked to examine the allegations and submit their report to the court by September 3, 2026.

If the inquiry finds enough evidence to support the allegations, further legal action could follow. However, Manhas has not been found guilty, and the court's decision to order an inquiry is not a finding against him. The allegations could have serious consequences if they are proven.

The complainant has sought an FIR over alleged cheating, fraud and forgery. The police will now examine the available records and other evidence before submitting their findings. The next steps will depend on the outcome of the preliminary inquiry.