India’s Supreme Court has cleared ICC chairman N Srinivasan of a cover up in the IPL fixing case but has delivered a damning verdict on running of the world’s richest and most powerful cricket board.
In what has been hailed as a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court delivered a 130 page verdict on its investigation into the 2013 IPL fixing case and ruled that the BCCI is blighted by conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency.
It has ruled that Srinivasan cannot stand for re-election as BCCI president while he runs the Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise and has set up an independent three member panel headed by the chief justice of India to review and improve the governance of the board.
The Supreme Court agreed this morning that Srinivisan’s son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappanwas guilty of betting on IPL matches and was a team official at the Chennai Super Kings. When the scandal first broke and was investigated by a BCCI appointed panel, Srinivasan stated that his son-in-law was an “enthusiast” and not a team official. But the Supreme Court threw that out today. It also ruled that Raj Kundra, an owner of the Rajasthan Royals team, was also involved in betting in a scandal that was first exposed by the Indian media 18 months ago.
If the Supreme Court had found Srinivasan culpable in a cover up his position at the ICC would have been untenable. But it stated: “Srinivasan had deep rooted interest in CSK matches, his behaviour raises suspicion but isn't proof.”
The court ordered that new BCCI elections must take place in six weeks’ time and Srinivasan can only stand for re-election as president if he gives up his stake in CSK.
The court will also decide on the future of CSK and the Rajasthan Royals. Both franchises could be thrown out of the IPL for breaking rules on corruption.
“The Supreme Court gave a very important verdict which describes what the public functions of BCCI are,” said Justice Mukul Mugdal, who led the inquiry. “The Supreme Court judgement has far reaching consequences.”
The Supreme Court ruled that the BCCI despite being a private body it is subject to the laws of India and must be made more transparent. “Power to punish the guilty vests with the BCCI but in the current context it cannot be left to the BCCI to appoint credible legal minds,” it said. “Amendments to be recommended by newly appointed Committee on BCCI elections, sports fraud, conflict of interest.”
Srinivasan has already been elected chairman of the ICC.
0 comments:
Post a Comment