India, July 29 -- The Supreme Court on Monday quashed criminal proceedings against star badminton player Lakshya Sen and his family in an alleged case of fabrication of his birth certificate, noting that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) had previously examined the accusation and found no material to proceed further.

"To compel such individuals, who have maintained an unblemished record and brought distinction to the country through sustained excellence, to undergo the ordeal of a criminal trial in the absence of prima facie material would not subserve the ends of justice. The invocation of criminal law in such circumstances would amount to an abuse of process, which this Court cannot countenance," the bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhuli...