Govt non-committal on JPC demand into IPL functioning

Government today said an investigation was being conducted into the functioning of IPL but remained non-committal on a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe demanded by non-UPA members who alleged that the tournament involved "betting" and "laundering of black money".

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha that investigation into the sources and routes of funding for the Twenty20 tournament had already begun and "no guilty or wrong-doer" would be spared.

"The concerned department has already started investigation process (into the IPL episode). All aspects including sources of funding and routes through which the funds arrived would be looked into. Appropriate action as per law would be taken. No guilty or wrong-doer will be spared," Mukherjee said.

His response came after Left parties, BJP, RJD, SP, JD(U) and BSP alleged that IPL involved "betting" and "laundering of black money" and asked the government to take control of it.

They welcomed the step of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek resignation of Tharoor over IPL allegations.

As soon as the House met for the day, Lalu Prasad (RJD), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) and Sharad Yadav (JD-U) were on their feet demanding that government ban the IPL which according to them has become a "betting and gambling ring".

Amid calls from Speaker Meira Kumar to allow the Question Hour, Sharad Yadav said, "The moot question is the IPL and not Tharoor." He was supported by Lalu Prasad.

Later in the Zero Hour, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta raised the issue. He said he welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's step of taking resignation of Tharoor but the main issue related to IPL.

Alleging that the game involves "laundering of black money" and "white-washing of black money", he said it was an "aberration" taking place "under the nose of Finance Ministry".

He criticised this form of 20-20 game, saying it was a "caricature" of cricket which was sending a wrong message to budding cricketers that they turn to it to earn money.

"Players are bought like vegetables. Betting is taking place openly. It is not cricket but organised gamble," Dasgupta alleged, adding that it involved huge amounts of money in a country which is poor in resources and has so many jobless people.

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was raised by a JD(U) member who said funds of the IPL and BCCI should be confiscated.

Dasgupta said there were reports that a large amount of money for IPL was coming from Mauritius and "dubious sources" in Dubai and black money in Swiss banks was being laundered into white money through this form of cricket.

He demanded that IPL should be banned and JPC probe ordered to find out where the money is coming from.

Similar views were expressed by Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gopinath Munde, Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh, Sharad Yadav and BSP's Dara Singh Chauhan.

Munde said IPL was a "scam" involving black money.

He said the Prime Minister had promised action in 100 days on illegal money stashed in foreign banks but these funds were being routed through IPL.

"The government should find the source of the money. There should be a probe to ascertain who runs (the show)," Munde said.

He also said that while bar girls in Mumbai had been barred from performing in bars, cheer girls are allowed to perform publicly.

Prasad said while Tharoor was just an excuse, a high official of the IPL had acquired assets like a plane abroad.

The RJD chief thanked the Prime Minister for making Tharoor resign and said IPL should be banned and JPC ordered. He also said that cricket should be nationalised.

Mulayam Singh said cricket, a "foreign game", was being promoted while national games were being bad shape.

Sharad Yadav alleged that IPL was "vulgar" and a "den of vices, black money and loot".

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was raised by JD(U) member Shivanand Tiwari who said funds of the IPL and BCCI should be confiscated.

"Players are being auctioned and the sport is being prostituted...," Tiwari said.

Quoting media reports, he said income tax authorities are said to have found evidence including the use of black money and match-fixing in the last four years against IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.