IPL Scam: Supreme Court Asks Why Not Disqualify Chennai Super Kings?
The Supreme Court has continued to play hard ball against BCCI president-in-exile N. Srinivasan, who is seeking another term as the Indian Board president.
N. Srinivasan's 'conflict of interest' in Indian cricket is being viewed seriously by the Supreme Court. The judges are unhappy that Srinivasan ran the BCCI as well as owned an IPL franchise - Chennai Super Kings -- that has won the tournament twice. But what is queering the pitch for the 69-year-old Tamil Nadu businessman is that his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan has been indicted by a court-appointed inquiry panel for betting and sharing team information. Till last year, Gurunath used to be a prominent face in the Chennai Super Kings dugout.
The judges feel Srinivasan has "covered up" Gurunath's identity and his position as a CSK owner may have come in the way of him conducting a fair tournament. Srinivasan is the Managing Director of India Cements, the company that owns CSK. Consequently, the judges feel the BCCI should go ahead with its elections (scheduled on December 17) minus "those under probe". Srinivasan is seeking another term as BCCI president.
The Court proceedings will resume on Monday afternoon.
The top developments (in ascending order) of the IPL betting and spot-fixing case:
1. The case dates back to June 2013. Aditya Verma, secretary of the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), filed a PIL in Bombay High Court raising charges of a conflict of interest in the Board's two-member inquiry panel probing corruption in IPL. The Bombay High Court declared the probe "illegal".
2. The BCCI and the CAB went to the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order. Verma's lawyers said the Bombay court could have suggested a fresh mechanism to investigate the charges of corruption.
3. In October 2013, the Supreme Court appointed a three-member committee, headed by former High Court judge Mukul Mudgal. The Supreme Court wanted the panel to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations of corruption against Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, India Cements, and Rajasthan Royals team owner Raj Kundra. The team was also asked to probe allegations of betting and spot-fixing in IPL and the involvement of players.
4. On February 10, 2014, the Mudgal Committee submitted two confidential reports to the Supreme court. They also filed a sealed envelope containing 13 names against whom there were "unsubstantiated" charges of corruption. One of the names was Srinivasan.
5. On March 28, Supreme Court suspends Srinivasan as BCCI president. In its interim order, the court says Srinivasan will be replaced by former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Shivlal Yadav. Gavaskar was given charge of IPL affairs while former Test spinner Yadav was entrusted with non-IPL issues.
6. On April 15, Srinivasan files an affidavit saying the Supreme Court should reinstate him as BCCI president. Srinivasan says he is innocent and allegations of conflict of interest were baseless. He also says that he never tried to hide the real identity of Meiyappan, indicted by Mudgal committee for betting and sharing team (Chennai Super Kings) information.
7. In May this year, following the probe panel's initial report, the Supreme Court gave the Mudgal committee greater powers to investigate the contents of the sealed envelope. Assisted by former senior IPS officer BB Mishra and Mumbai and Chennai police among others, the panel got greater investigative powers for search and seizure of relevant documents. The panel was asked to submit a report by August-end. On September 1, the Mudgal panel gets a two-month extension to complete its probe.
8. BCCI lawyers wants Srinivasan to be reinstated since the Board AGM was due. The Bench refused saying BCCI AGM was "not its concern." The court also referred to an earlier order by Justice AK Patnaik saying Srinivasan "could not come back as BCCI president as long as the probe is on." BCCI puts off AGM to November 20, clearly indicating that it will wait for Supreme Court's ruling on 'suspended' Srinivasan.
9. Mudgal panel submits its final report to the special Supreme Court Bench in a sealed cover on November 3. Court hears case on November 10 but adjourns till November 14. The Bench reveals the names of Srinivasan, Gurunath Meiyappan, Raj Kundra and Sundar Raman for "misdemeanor" in IPL. Serves notices on the four "non-playing" members. On November 17, the apex court says Srinivasan was not involved in spot-fixing or illegal betting but covered up individuals who flouted code of conduct. Srinivasan's lawyers once again urge apex court to reinstate him as BCCI boss.IPL COO Sundar Raman, accused of contacting a bookie eight times in a season of the IPL, also files an affidavit in the court. Hearing posted on November 24.
10. On November 24, Supreme Court slams N. Srinivasan for owning an Indian Premier League franchise (Chennai Super Kings) as it raises issues of conflict of interest. The apex court demanded answers from him regarding his son-in-law Meiyappan. Meiyappan was indicted in betting during IPL. The court also said that Meiyappan's involvement in betting during IPL was as dangerous as 'insider trading.'