IPL scam: SC suggests panel to decide punishment for Meiyappan, others

Says it does not want to disqualify Srinivasan but the committee should decide if he can contest BCCI election

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested that a committee be formed to go into the aspect of punishment for those found guilty in the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scam, especially Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of suspended Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) president N Srinivasan and former official of Chennai Super Kings. He was found guilty in the spot-fixing scam that came to light last year.

The bench headed by T S Thakur clarified it did not want to bypass BCCI but mooted the idea of a panel which will also go into preventive steps so that situations like the present one involving conflict of interest does not occur in future. This will be in the best interest of the game, the judges observed. They added the rules could even be amended to save cricket.

BCCI counsel C A Sundaram said the panel can suggest the punishment that would be binding but other recommendations of the panel like amendments to the rules would require the approval of the general body. The committee can only make suggestions to change the rules; otherwise the bylaws would cease to have any effect.

Kapil Sibal, senior counsel for Srinivasan, submitted that the latter’s reputation will be affected by further probe. There are only allegations against Srinivasan which have not been affirmed by the Mudgal committee. He should be allowed to contest the coming election to the top post in the BCCI, the counsel said. Senior counsel Nalini Chidambaram, representing the Cricket Association of Bihar which opposes Srinivasan, however, said the investigation had not given a clean chit to Srinivasan and she had given documentary proof before the court to show cover-up and conflict of interest. Srinivasan should be kept out of the contest, she insisted.

She wanted to present documentary evidence before the committee if it was formed. According to her, Srinivasan must suffer the same punishment as Meiyappan.

Sibal vehemently opposed the suggestion and asserted that there should be no “person-specific” action, and Srinivasan should be allowed to contest the BCCI election. The judges said they did not want to disqualify Srinivasan, but the air should be cleared by a committee, if possible.

The arguments on the IPL scam has spilled over to the second week and the hearing will continue on Wednesday.