Apex court lets Srinivasan return to BCCI helm

In a relief to N Srinivasan, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed him to take charge as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, even as it constituted a three-member committee headed by former Punjab & Haryana Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal to inquire into the allegation of betting and spot-fixing against his son-in-law and owners of Rajasthan Royals.

Srinivasan had stepped aside from his post after his son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, was arrested in connection with the spot-fixing scandal.

He was later restrained by the apex court from taking charge after being re-elected president. Srinivasan has now been allowed to get back to the helm of affairs of the cricketing body, after almost four months.

Saying he was happy to resume functioning, Srinivasan told reporters in Chennai, "The Supreme court has said I can resume functioning and discharge my functions. I am quite happy because BCCI needs someone."

Commenting on the Supreme Court's decision to form a fresh investigation panel to probe spot-fixing issues related to the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League, he said, "I have nothing to do with the committee. The SC has directly formed it."

A bench comprising
A K Patnaik and J S Khehar, however, appointed a new committee to probe allegations against Meiyappan and owners of Rajasthan Royals, including Raj Kundra, and was asked to give its report to the apex court, preferably within four months.

The committee, also comprising senior advocate and Additional Solicitor General N Nagehswar Rao and Assam Cricket Association member Nilay Dutta, will file its report on the termination of contract of the erring franchise.

The apex court directed the BCCI and Srinivasan not to interfere in the probe to be carried out by the committee, and directed them to cooperate with it.

The bench turned down the plea of Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), which had filed a petition against BCCI and Srinivasan, that the latter be not allowed to take charge till completion of the probe.

It also clarified that its order did not cast any doubt or aspersion on the members of the panel, which was appointed by BCCI to inquire into the controversy and which gave a clean chit to Meiyappan.

The bench said that the new committee would probe all allegations levelled by CAB.

The bench said that the committee would give its report to the apex court, which will consider it and pass a order on the basis of its findings.