After almost 18 months of deliberations on the 2013 Indian Premier League betting and match-fixing scandal, the Supreme Court of India has barred N Srinivasan from contesting Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) elections till such time he had "commercial interest in cricket."
The court earlier said Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra of Rajasthan Royals were involved in betting. In its 130-page order, the court said Srinivasan was not guilty of cover-up and "charges against him, at best, be regarded as suspicion." The two-judge special bench, however, said "BCCI functions are public functions, amenable to judicial law."
It turned out to be a bitter-sweet day for Srinivasan, who is also the first chairman of ICC. The top court observed that conflict of interest issues remained and Srinivasan had to choose between his IPL team Chennai Super Kings and the top job in BCCI.
In a significant decision, the court struck down the controversial 6.2.4 clause that allows BCCI officials to own IPL teams and have commercial interests. "BCCI must ensure institutional integrity in the conduct of game considering the expectations of millions of viewers. Rule 6.2.4 violates principle of natural justice," the court said.
A three-member panel headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha and other former judges of the top court - Ashok Bhan and RV Ravindran, was also formed to decide the fate of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and recommend changes in the BCCI constitution. The panel will give its report in six months. "It is a huge task and a great responsibility. We will complete the task in the given time," said Justice Lodha. Former BCCI president IS Bindra said, "It's a shame that a court has appointed to find out how the Board has been running for some time now."
Srinivasan is seeking a re-election as BCCI president. The elections have to be held within six weeks. In the wake of the IPL probe, Srinivasan was stood down last year by the top court from his position as Board chief. The BCCI has already postponed its Annual General Meeting and elections twice. As per its constitution, the AGM should have been held by September 30 last year. Srinivasan is seeking another term, this time as a candidate backed by the BCCI's East Zone units.
The Supreme Court-appointed probe committee, led by Justice Mukul Mudgal, had in its first report indicted Meiyappan of betting and sharing team information. Srinivasan had mentioned that Gurunath was a mere 'cricket enthusiast.' Srinivasan was earlier charged for not taking adequate action against those involved in 'misdemeanours.' The case dates back to June 2013 when Aditya Verma, secretary of the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), raised charges of a conflict of interest in the BCCI's original two-member inquiry panel for the IPL corruption issue.
A Bombay High Court ruling later termed the probe panel "illegal". The BCCI and the CAB filed petitions in the Supreme Court against this order, with the CAB contending that the Bombay High Court could have suggested a fresh mechanism to look into the corruption allegations.
The Supreme Court then appointed a three-member committee, headed by former High Court judge Mukul Mudgal and comprising additional solicitor general L Nageswara Rao and Nilay Dutta to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations of corruption against Chennai Super Kings official Meiyappan, India Cements, and Rajasthan Royals' co-owner Kundra, as well as with the larger mandate of allegations around betting and spot-fixing in IPL matches and the involvement of players
ini decides to snap CSK ties
Meanwhile, Srinivasan has decided to disassociate himself from the Chennai Super Kings following the Supreme Court order which bars BCCI office-bearers having any commercial interest in the board's activities.
In a meeting of the board's key functionaries, Srinivasan apparently told the BCCI members that he is going to keep himself out of the IPL team, sources said. Srinivasan's family has the majority stake in India Cements, which is the parent company of CSK.
Srinivasan had earlier demerged CSK from India Cements and made it a separate subsidiary in the hope that the court would give him an option to choose between a position in the BCCI and his IPL franchise.
Srinivasan is learnt to have informed BCCI office bearers that he wants to be in the fray for the BCCI elections.
But Supreme Court order clearly states that a person cannot contest the election “till such time the person concerned holds such commercial interest (in the board) or till the three-member committee (probing charges of betting on IPL matches against IPL teams CSK and Rajasthan Royals and their officials owners Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra) considers and awards suitable punishment to those liable for the same, whichever is later”.
This phrase “whichever is later” has closed all doors on Srinivasan as the elections have to be held within six weeks, while the three-member panel has been given six months to give its verdict.
