IPL spot-fixing probe: Is BCCI above the law? asks Kirti Azad

Training his guns at the BCCI for handing out clean chits in the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal, cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad today asked if the Indian Cricket Board considers itself above the law.

Azad's comments came after the BCCI's two-member probe panel cleared Chennai Super Kings Team Principle Gurunath Meiyappan, who is the son-in-law of Board President N Srinivasan, Rajasthan Royals franchise and its co-owner Raj Kundra in the scam that rocked the IPL this year.

"I don't blame (BCCI acting chief) Jagmohan Dalmiya or Srinivasan for this. The politicians are hell bent on making BCCI the next Indian Olympic Association. We have seen what happened to IOA due to political interference and now the same is happening with BCCI," Azad told 'PTI-Bhasha'.

"Mumbai police has said that the investigation is still on. Delhi police is still investigating and the BCCI panel has given them a clean chit. Is BCCI above the law and constitution of the country?" he asked.

Azad felt the BCCI should be immediately brought under the ambit of the Right To Information act.

"There is no other alternative. The government has to intervene and bring BCCI under the RTI. When former sports minister Ajay Maken brought the sports bill, the cabinet ministers, involved with BCCI, opposed that. If BCCI claims that they do auditing of their account, then why do they hesitate to come under RTI?" Azad queried.

"It is time to make BCCI functioning more transparent and it can be done through RTI," he said.

He also said that it is wrong to penalise players and give clean chits to officials.

"Whenever something happens, players get penalised and officials walk free. It's a pity because despite all the controversies cricket is still the most popular game in the country due to the hard work and excellent performance of players," he said.