Wednesday, July 26 2006 14:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Indian cricket board Wednesday adjourned a scheduled disciplinary hearing of its former president Jagmohan Dalmiya over charges of alleged misappropriation of funds.

Dalmiya had moved a local court in Kolkata Tuesday questioning the legality of the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to summon him before its disciplinary committee, headed by its current president Sharad Pawar.

Apparently, Dalmiya had written to the BCCI requesting it to defer the meeting as he was busy in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections July 30 in Kolkata where he is seeking re-election to its top post.

"The communication sent by your lawyer Mr. Soumendra Nath Banerjee by fax was forwarded to the members of Disciplinary Committee," said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah Wednesday.

"They have considered your request for adjourning the proceedings. The committee felt that only filing of a suit in the absence of any interim order is no ground to adjourn the matter."

"However to give you a fair opportunity in the matter in the interest of justice the proceedings are adjourned. The next date of hearing will be communicated to you in due course," said Shah in a statement.

The committee, which also included BCCI vice-presidents Shashank Manohar and Chirayu Amin, deferred the hearing to an undecided date.

Dalmiya is charged with misappropriating Rs. 40 crores (Rs 400 million) from the account of Pilcom, the joint organising committee of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, formed to organise the 1996 World Cup. Dalmiya has strongly denied the charge.