Merchants Club terminates Aggarwal’s membership

Ravikiran Aggarwal’s membership was revoked in June this year. Representation pic

Ravikiran Aggarwal, former chairman of real estate firm Orbit Corporation Ltd, has been removed as the member of the Shree Krishna Hindu Merchants Club. The Chowpatty club terminated his membership, citing a 2020 order by the Bombay High Court which declared him insolvent.

He received a two-page communication from the club in June this year, which stated that in reference to his club membership, Aggarwal is reminded to look at Clause 12 of club bye-laws for membership cessation.

The letter cites a number of clauses by which an individual ceases to be a club member. The laws go by alphabetical order, A to G, with letter ‘F' highlighted in black. It said, "If he is declared insolvent".

It goes on to say that it was resolved unanimously in a managing committee meeting on March 22, 2021, that the club is going by the Bombay HC's order passed on May 26, 2020, declaring Aggarwal insolvent, and that he ceases to be a member of the club, which is in accordance to Clause 12(F).

Aggarwal said, "I have no interest in pursuing this matter, though I know legally I am on very strong ground. I have been a member of this club. I have also been a former secretary but have no interest in pursuing this. There is a lot of gambling going on at this club. This rule, too, is not enshrined in the Constitution and has been made to remove me. I am not interested in memberships in these clubs. I want to live in peace."

Nitin Dossa, the club's president, refuted his gambling charge and asked, "Then, why was he the club secretary?" He said the rule [as per which Aggarwal's membership was terminated] has been part of this 100-year-old institution.

Aggarwal had lost the membership of the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in June last year. Aggarwal, who is based out of Mumbai, was the president of both the Mumbai and Delhi clubs. The NSCI notice had also cited the Bombay HC order declaring him insolvent. The decision was taken by the Regional Committee (Delhi) in a meeting on June 7 last year, and the notice was issued the next day.

The NSCI has one president for both Delhi and Mumbai clubs, according to the club's election procedure.