BCCI suspends Meiyappan, promises cops help in probe

The Indian cricket board Sunday suspended Chennai Super Kings' Chief Executive Officer Gurunath Meiyappan, who is now under arrest for his alleged involvement in the spot fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and promised cooperation in the investigations.

Announcing the decision Sunday, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Jagdale said the board would assist the police and regulatory authorities in the investigations into the scandal, whose ramifications seem to be widening.

Meiyappan, who is the son-in-law of BCCI president N.Srinivasan, gave himself up late Friday night to Mumbai police, who arrested him after a three-hour grilling. Meiyappan's name cropped up after police arrested Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh, who was seen in the VIP boxes during Super Kings' matches.

"Pending further investigation and any subsequent hearing by the BCCI Disciplinary Committee or the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee, Mr. Meiyappan has been suspended by the BCCI from any involvement in the sport of cricket and in particular from any involvement with the Chennai Super Kings team," Jagdale said in a statement.

Jagdale said the BCCI has "taken note of the detention" of Meiyappan by Mumbai police.

"As an accredited team official, Mr. Meiyappan is subject to the provisions of the IPL Operational Rules and the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code for Participants," the statement said.

Jagdale said the BCCI officials, including chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty and IPL CEO Sundar Raman, met officers from Mumbai police Thursday evening.

"BCCI officials met with officers from the Mumbai police on the evening of 23 May, and will continue to offer all assistance to the police and regulatory authorities," he added.

The latest scandal to have rocked Indian cricket was exposed following the arrest of three cricketers of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan and 11 bookies in a post-midnight operation in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad May 16.

The cricketers and the bookies were alleged to have manipulated portions of at least three games of the ongoing IPL.

A number of other bookies have also been arrested across the country in connection with cricket betting.