IPL scam: Probe against Srinivasan, 12 players

In a set back to beleaguered N Srinivasan, the Supreme Court on Friday directed a probe against him and 12 prominent players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting and spot-fixing scandal.

The apex court turned down the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'S proposal to get the probe done by its panel and gave the task of investigation to Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee which had earlier also conducted the probe in the scandal and had submitted in a sealed envelop its report in which names of Srinivasan and 12 cricketers were mentioned.

A Bench headed by Justice A K Patnaik asked the Mudgal Committee, also comprising Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao and advocate Niloy Dutta, to complete the probe and file its report in a sealed envelop by the end of August.

It said a group of investigators headed by senior IPS officer B B Mishra will assist the Mudgal Committee in the probe. The panel would have the power to probe, search and seize relevant documents and record evidence, it said. The court, however, said that the panel, which would also be assisted by Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai police, would not have the power to arrest any person.

It also said Sunil Gavaskar and Shivlal Yadav, who were appointed as interim presidents of BCCI after Srinivasan stepped aside from the post, will continue to do their job till further orders. It also said further probe by the Mudgal Committee is needed to maintain confidentiality of the allegations levelled against Srinivasan and others.