The BCI co-chair demanded that Manan Kumar Mishra step down immediately over allegations of appointment irregularities and fund diversion.
Published: August 22, 2026, 4:56 PM IST
Share Article
https://www.india.com/news/india/bci-row-co-chair-yr-sadashiva-reddy-alleges-fund-diversion-family-links-in-appointments-manan-mishra-calls-them-baseless-allegations-8507549/
Mishra alleged that Reddy was politically opposed to the BJP and had opposed him since his time in the partyFile image/ANI
Senior Advocate and Bar Council of India (BCI) Co-Chairman YR Sadashiva Reddy has demanded BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra’s immediate resignation, alleging irregularities in appointments, diversion of Council funds, financial dealings involving law colleges and other governance issuesIn a letter addressed to Mishra, Reddy has sought an independent inquiry into the issues and asked Mishra to resign forthwith and, in any event, within 15 days of receiving the letter.
“The Bar of this country deserves better than what it is presently receiving from its own CouncilI ask you to allow it that opportunity,” Reddy said towards the conclusion of his letterReddy has also sought a Special Meeting of the BCI, a special audit of the Council and BCI Trust PEARL-First, and an immediate halt to contributions, donations or payments from law colleges, universities or their managementsHe has set out eight grounds for seeking Mishra’s resignation, including the BCI’s handling of the recent NALSAR controversy.
Read more:
‘Legal Cockroaches’ to take to streets against BCI chief Manan Mishra tomorrow, CJP backs protest
Also Read | ‘Legal Cockroaches’ to take to streets against BCI chief Manan Mishra tomorrow, CJP backs protest
Reddy alleged that the BCI Chairman’s office directed that the 2026 graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law not be enrolled following an episode concerning students expressing an opinion relating to their convocationHe said the decision was taken without the matter being placed before the BCI or deliberated upon by the Council“I was not consultedTo the best of my knowledge, the Council as a body was not consulted”, he says.
Reddy said the direction was withdrawn within hours following criticism and Mishra subsequently issued a letter expressing regretBut he said the episode had seriously damaged the BCI’s standing“The point is that the office of Chairman was used to threaten an entire graduating batch of law students — young men and women with no power and no voice — with exclusion from the profession, as a reprisal for having held an opinionThat single act, in my respectful but firm view, has done more damage to the standing of this Council than anything else in its history, and it is by itself sufficient ground for you to demit office”, the letter says.
Bar Council of India (BCI) Co-Chairman Y.RSadashiva Reddy has written to BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, demanding his resignation within 15 dayspic.twitter.com/MUHONVNa6W
— IANS (@ians_india) August 22, 2026
Reddy’s first ground concerns appointments to the BCI establishmentHe alleged that appointments were made without advertisements, selection committee proceedings or comparative merit lists and alleged that several employees were connected to Mishra or his family“A striking proportion of the staff are persons connected to you personally, several of them being members of, or related to, your own family”, he says.
His second ground concerns the transfer of Rs 150 crore from the BCI to BCI Trust PEARL-First, which Reddy said was created after the BCI Trust was allowed to fall into disuseHe questioned the manner in which the new Trust was created and said BCI members had not been shown its Trust Deed“It is not a licence to raise funds”, Reddy says.
Manan Mishra calls allegations ‘baseless’
Mishra alleged that Reddy was politically opposed to the BJP and had opposed him since his time in the party“But whatever allegations MrReddy has put are personally and politically motivated allegations,” Mishra said.
He further claimed that more than two-thirds of BCI members continued to support him and said the Council had held a physical meeting and conducted business transactions despite the allegations.
Mishra further challenged Reddy to substantiate his claims regarding the Council“He should come and prove itIf he proves it, then I am out,” he said, adding that such allegations did not suit Reddy, whom he described as a senior lawyer.
Also Read | ‘Sincerely regret’: BCI chief apologises to law students amid NALSAR controversy
On the allegations related to the trust, Mishra maintained that its functioning was fully transparentHe said the trust was managed by Bar Council members and senior advocates, and that its accounts were audited annuallyHe added that the audit report is incorporated into the budget and published for public access.
“Manan Mishra will remain president as long as the country’s lawyers, the voters, want him to stay,” he said.
