BCCI President should take responsibility for IPL fiasco, says Kamal Nath

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath on Saturday said Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President N. Srinivasan should take responsibility of the scam, which rocked the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.

"First and foremost, the main responsibility is of the chief of the Indian Cricket Board N. Srinivasan and he should take his responsibility so as to bring a change in the board," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader and BCCI member Jyotiraditya Scindia said Srinivasan should resign in wake of the ongoing controversy surrounding the IPL.

"For the progress and well being of the cricket and because of what all is happening in the world of cricket, being a functionary at the board I want to say that Srinivasan should resign and stressed on the need for fixing accountability," said Scindia.

Two top BCCI officials -- BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale and Treasurer Ajay Shirke-have tendered their resignations in the wake of spot-fixing scandal. There are indications that more BCCI functionaries may also step down from their respective posts to mount pressure on cricket board's chief N. Srinivasan to step down from his post in wake of the arrest of his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan on charges of betting in the IPL.

An emergency meeting of the Working Committee of the BCCI is being convened at Chennai tomorrow.

BCCI Vice President Arun Jaitley earlier in the day said that there would be some significant developments in the next 24 hours.

"Wait for a day and you will hear something significant today," he told mediapersons outside his residence here.

The chorus for Srinivasan's ouster as BCCI President has grown louder with BCCI heavyweights appearing to be firm regarding his resignation. Union Minister and former BCCI boss Sharad Pawar has also joined in the attack.

The Sports Ministry has also put pressure on Srinivasan, and said that he should tender his resignation on moral grounds, pending the outcome of the inquiry.

Despite suggestions from BCCI heavyweights- Rajeev Shukla and Arun Jaitley-that he should disassociate himself from the procedures of the inquiry commission investigating the spot-fixing scandal, Srinivasan has so far showed no signs of relenting under pressure.

A Mumbai Court yesterday extended the police custody of actor Vindoo Dara Singh and BCCI President N. Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan till June 3.

The Mumbai Crime Brach yesterday recorded the statement of Chennai hotelier Vikram Agarwal, a friend of Meiyappan.