N. Srinivasan Can't Contest BCCI Elections Till he Gives up Commercial Interests in Cricket: Supreme Court

After almost 18 months of deliberations on the 2013 Indian Premier League betting and match-fixing scandal, the Supreme Court has barred N. Srinivasan from contesting Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) elections till such time he had "commercial interest in cricket." (Also read: Srinivasan refuses to comment on Supreme Court judgment)

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." (Timeline: Complete IPL saga)

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. (Top 10 developments)

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 to NDTV. 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."(Watch full interview here)

Srinivasan is seeking a re-election as BCCI president. The elections have to be held within six weeks of Thursday's order. 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.' (Watch: Justice Mudgal hails judgment)

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. (Supreme Court's top-10 observations in the IPL spot-fixing case)

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.

(With inputs from A. Vaidyanathan)