IPL Scam Hearing: Can N. Srinivasan Disprove Conflict of Interest Charges?

Suspended Board of Control for Cricket in India president N. Srinivasan faces the arduous task of disproving observations of conflict of interest against him when the hearing into the Indian Premier League betting and spot-fixing scam resumes in the Supreme Court on Monday.

In the previous hearing - on December 1, the apex court put the onus on Srinivasan and his cousel Kapil Sibal, saying they needed to "lift the veil" on the issue of conflict of interest. (India Cements Shares Sink Due to IPL Scam)

"The ownership of a team raises conflict of interest. President of BCCI has to run the show but you have a team which raises questions and it can't be wished away," the court had previously observed. Srinivasan, BCCI's president-in-exile is also the managing director of India Cements which owns the Indian Premier League franchise, Chennai Super Kings. (Srinivasan to Supreme Court: Gavaskar, Ganguly, Shastri Also Had Dual Roles in BCCI, IPL)

Sibal argued that at no point of time was Srinivasan given an opportunity either before the Mudgal Committee or the High Court to address the issue of conflict of interest.

Sibal also accused Srinivasan's "rivals" of making these accusations to keep him away from the BCCI, referring to secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar Aditya Verma, who filed a petition against Srinivasan in the Bombay High Court. (Srinivasan Says All Allegations Against Him Are False)

"They only want to remove him. They are not espousing the cause of cricket. They are espousing something else," he said.

Maintaining Srinivasan's 'innocent' stance, the senior advocate said the allegation of cover up against Srinivasan was wrong as the day Meiyappan was arrested on May 24, 2013 in Mumbai, the BCCI lodged a complaint against India Cements Ltd.

Sibal also said that the BCCI, in its working committee meeting on May 28, 2013 had set up a three-member commission comprising two retired judges as independent members and one from the Board to proceed against Meiyappan. The top court, cross questioned this claim, asking "Who was at the helm of that working committee meeting? Who was heading the meeting? Was it on the concurrence of the BCCI President?" Sibal will brace himself for many such tough questions on Monday. (IPL Spot-Fixing and Betting Saga: A Timeline)

The pressure is mounting on Srinivasan. It's a race against time for the Tamil Nadu cricket strongman to 'come clean' before BCCI's AGM, scheduled for December 17. The judges have added to the pressure by calling for fresh BCCI elections without the inclusion of all those involved in the IPL scam.

All is at stake for Srinivasan. Can advocate Sibal orchestrate a 'clean chit' for his client? Or will the Supreme Court seal Srinivasan's fate by keeping him away from the BCCI.