READING between the lines of leaked reports of the Nanavati Commission recommendations concerning Harbhajan Singh, it appears the Turbanator will be let off by the three-man BCCI Disciplinary Committee.

And so should he be but with a sharp rap on his knuckles.

Apart from loss of izzat, Harbhajan is currently serving an 11-match IPL ban which is costing him in excess of Rs two crores in lost wages and other benefits. He has also lost valuable time on the field, during which he could have enhanced his international reputation rather than besmirch it.

Moreover, he has acknowledged his guilt in the Sreesanth slapping incident and, seemingly contrite, has promised to behave himself in future.

In enlightened jurisprudence the essence of punishment is reform of the guilty rather than society’s way of wreaking revenge; its intent should not be to assert its diktat but to rehabilitate and serve as a deterrent by setting an example.

To the extent that all these objectives have been achieved, it would be grossly unjust for the BCCI Disciplinary Committee consisting of its president Sharad Pawar, vice-president Manohar Shashank and Chirayu Amin to rub Harbhajan’s nose in the dust by punishing him again for the same offence.

Sentencing an offender twice for the same offence is tantamount to travesty of justice.

Duty-bound

Those clamouring for Harbhajan’s head may argue that he has been tried and sentenced by the IPL, not the BCCI, and that, by virtue of being the game’s supreme governing body (and, therefore, its conscience-keeper), the BCCI is duty-bound to mete out its own justice. But this is specious reasoning.

The Board risks being accused of obscurantist vengeance and sophistry if it slaps another sentence on the amiable but wayward sardar who, like his nemesis Sreesanth, has a misplaced notion of aggression.

The latter must consider himself distinctly fortunate for not being hauled over the coals as well for his repeated asinine objectionable behaviour.

Ever since Harbhajan stirred up a tsunami during India’s last tour of Australia, KHALIDOSCOPE has been advocating that the BCCI take strict deterrent and exemplary action against him for being a serial offender, who has been punished no less than six times by the ICC on disciplinary grounds.

Engulfed

Sudhir Nanvati

However, engulfed in the groundswell of self-righteous chauvinistic outrage in the length and breadth of the country as a reaction to notorious bullying tactics by the Australians, the BCCI, instead, thought it expedient to turn a Nelson eye, even as the nation rejoiced in the team’s stirring performances.

Having sowed the wind of indiscipline, it is now reaping the whirlwind of possible lawlessness.

The need of the hour is strong but enlightened action.

Having put the fear of God in Harbhajan, it should now show clemency towards him.

Now that Nanavati has found him guilty of a Level 4 offence, the BCCI is duty bound to act.

The ends of justice would be adequately served by handing the Turbanator a severe warning, and after he has completed his present ban, paternally allow the spin jadoogar to return to the one thing he knows best scalping the batsmen.