IPL Scam Hearing: BCCI Opposes Supreme Court Appointed Committee, Says Autonomy Will be at Stake

The BCCI on Wednesday expressed reservations about the Supreme Court appointed high-powered committee, insisting its autonomy would be at stake. The committee could take a call on the punishment for those who breached the IPL code of conduct, including Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of BCCI president-in-exile N. Srinivasan. The committee that could include retired judges, will also look into whether Srinivasan's role in the alleged betting and spot-fixing scam in IPL 6 and if the role of the two requires punishment and the quantum.

The court had said maintaining "purity" of cricket was of utmost importance to it and hinted at setting up a high-powered committee to suggest measures for cleansing the game and ascertain if there was conflict of interest involving Srinivasan. "That committee has to be a high-powered committee and that committee will also look into the conflict of interest and its findings will be binding on BCCI," a bench of justices T S Thakur and F M I Kalifulla observed while hinting that the committee would consist of retired judges. (Supreme Court Tells Srinivasan to Maintain Distance From BCCI Working Committee)

However, the BCCI said it was open to suggestions from the Supreme Court but pleaded with it to not make the committee's findings binding.

The Supreme Court said the proposed committee would make BCCI's rules more effective. The Court further told BCCI that the game of cricket would collapse if people's confidence in the sport was not restored.

The apex court also wondered why the BCCI wanted it to take only punitive measures and not preventive steps in order to ensure that temptations to wrongdoings are eliminated. "You mean to say try us when the theft occurs but if there is a temptation that should not be tackled," the Supreme Court addressed the BCCI.

Meanwhile, in the course of a lengthy hearing on Wednesday, Srinivasan gave an assurance to the Supreme Court that he wold not attend any BCCI Working Committee or IPL Governing Council meetings if elected Board president. Srinivasan also sought the Supreme Court's permission to contest BCCI elections. He said he would wait for a Court appointed high powered committee to clear his name of conflict of interest charges before attending such meetings if he won the elections.

Responding to a poser from the court Tuesday, senior counsel Kapil Sibal told the Supreme Court that Srinivasan would stay away from IPL governing council and its activities and also from the BCCI meetings related to IPL.

Appearing for Srinivasan, Sibal told the apex court that if it allows BCCI elections and "if I contest and if I win, I undertake that I will stay away from IPL governing council, its activities and the BCCI meetings where the issue relating to IPL will be discussed". Sibal said this during the hearing on a PIL by Cricket Association of Bihar which has sought to oust Srinivasan as BCCI president on the ground of his being in the conflict of interest situation being the president of the cricketing body and also the owner of CSK.

The PIL is also seeking the cancellation of IPL franchisee CSK on the ground of Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan's alleged involvement in betting.

Srinivasan, who was suspended as BCCI president earlier this year, is the managing director of India Cements which owns IPL side Chennai Super Kings and the Supreme Court had pulled him up over conflict of interest. The court asked whether Srinivasan wanted to remain in BCCI or retain his team CSK in the IPL. (Supreme Court to Appoint High Powered Committee to Cleanse Cricket)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday had asked Srinivasan how he could attend BCCI Working Committee Meetings when he had stepped aside from Board duties pending investigations by the Mudgal Committee. Srinivasan had attended the meetings as Tamil Nadu Cricket Association chief and admitted it was a mistake. (Supreme Court's High Powered Committee to Decide on Punishment)

Meanwhile, the lawyers for IPL, Gurunath, Chennai Super Kings, Raj Kundra and Rajasthan Royals are also making their cases to the Supreme Court bench.

India Cements distanced itself from Meiyappan and said he betting in a personal capacity and not as a Chennai Super Kings official.