IPL Scam Hearing: Can Kapil Sibal Clinch it for Suspended N. Srinivasan?
Lawyers will continue their argument to lift the suspension on BCCI president N. Srinivasan. The Supreme Court has observed that persons under probe should stay away from the Board.
Suspended Board of Control for Cricket in India president N. Srinivasan continues his battle for a highly-anticipated return to the BCCI fold as the Board's boss, even as the Supreme Court maintains a tough stance against the Tamil Nadu cricket strongman. The apex court has raised issues of conflict of interest against Srinivasan, after Gurunath Meiyappan, his son-in-law and a high-ranking official of the Chennai Super Kings, was indicted for betting during IPL 2013. On Monday, Srinivasan's counsel Kapil Sibal will argue the case for the embattled BCCI chief. (IPL Scam: A timeline)
During the last hearing on Thursday, the special Supreme Court Bench wanted to know who was controlling two-time IPL champions CSK. The judges said: "Srinivasan's position as CSK owner might have come in way of him conducting a fair tournament." The Bench also observed that CSK should be terminated without any further enquiry. (IPL Scam: Supreme Court's top 10 observations)
The judges also called for fresh Board elections with all those involved in the IPL scam to stand aside. The BCCI AGM is scheduled on December 17. Srinivasan is eyeing a second term as BCCI head as a candidate from East Zone. (IPL spot-fixing and betting scam: Top developments)
Srinivasan's fate will now depend on how well his lawyer Sibal can counter the various questions raised by the court. The entire focus of this high-profile case has been on whether Srinivasan will get a complete clean chit from the apex court and make his return to BCCI fold. (Sachin Tendulkar tight-lipped over Mudgal report)
On November 3, the Justice Mukul Mudgal-headed probe committee had submitted a sealed report on 13 individuals who were being investigated in the IPL corruption case and Cricket Association of Bihar (petitioners) counsel Harish Salve has asked the judges -- Justice TS Thakur and Justice FM Kalifullah -- to make the full report public. Several national stars are allegedly named in the report. (India Cements shares sink due to IPL scam)
Given how the case has shaped up so far, the odds are stacked heavily against Srinivasan and his loyalists. The Supreme Court has shown keen interest in cleaning up Indian cricket and an order to back up their intentions could spell doom for Srinivasan.