Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen has found himself at the center of a legal storm, as allegations of age fraud have led to criminal proceedings against him, his family, and his coach.
However, in a major relief, the Supreme Court of India has stayed the criminal proceedings while seeking responses from the Karnataka government and the complainant, M.G. Nagaraja.
The case, which revolves around alleged fabrication of birth certificates to enable participation in junior tournaments, will now be heard on April 16, 2025.
What Are the Allegations?
The case against Lakshya Sen, his brother Chirag Sen, their father Dhirendra K. Sen, mother Nirmala D. Sen, and coach U. Vimal Kumar was registered following a private complaint by M.G. Nagaraja.
The complaint alleges that the Sen family manipulated Lakshya’s date of birth, lowering his age by two-and-a-half years to allow him to compete in junior badminton tournaments and claim government benefits.
Key Allegations:
Nagaraja claims Lakshya’s actual birth year is January/February 1996, but his official birth certificate states July 22, 1998.
A departmental inquiry found Lakshya’s father, Dhirendra Sen, guilty of fabricating birth records.
Chirag Sen was previously suspended by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) in 2016 for similar age fraud.
The complaint led to an FIR in December 2022 under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), and 471 (using forged documents) of the IPC.
Legal Developments
High Court Ruling (February 2025)
The Karnataka High Court rejected Lakshya Sen’s plea to quash the FIR and allowed the investigation to proceed. Justice M.G. Uma, in her ruling, noted that:
The complainant had submitted evidence obtained via the RTI Act, including an inquiry report from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, which allegedly found the father guilty.
The investigation had been stalled since 2022, and further delay was unwarranted.
Supreme Court Relief (February 27, 2025)
A bench led by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia intervened and stayed coercive steps against Lakshya and his family, while seeking responses from the Karnataka government and Nagaraja. The next hearing is set for April 16, 2025.
The Defense’s Argument
Lakshya Sen’s legal team has denied all allegations, calling them:
Baseless and motivated to humiliate the player and his family.
The case was already closed in 2018, when the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) accepted their birth records.
The complainant’s real motivation stems from his daughter not being selected for the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in 2020.
Impact on Lakshya Sen’s Career
Despite this controversy, Lakshya Sen remains one of India’s top badminton players:
- 2018: Junior champion at the Asian Championships.
- 2021: Bronze medal at the BWF World Championships.
- 2022: Gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and silver at the All England Open.
- 2024: Narrowly missed out on a bronze at the Paris Olympics.
What’s Next?
The Supreme Court will hear the case on April 16, 2025.
- If found guilty, Lakshya Sen and his family could face serious legal consequences.
- If acquitted, this controversy could still affect his reputation and career prospects.
With the Paris 2024 Olympics behind him and the BWF World Tour in full swing, Lakshya Sen must now balance his focus between court battles and on-court battles as he fights to clear his name.
