Mudgal probe panel discusses modalities of investigation

The Justice Mudgal IPL Probe Committee met here Sunday for the first time under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Mukul Mudgal to discuss the modalities of further investigation into the betting and spot-fixing scandal in last year's Indian Premier League.

The three-member committee, however, couldn't finalise on a former cricketer who would assist them in the investigation as instructed by the Supreme Court.

The other two members are L. Nageswar Rao (additional solicitor general of India) and senior advocate Niloy Dutta. The committee has to submit a report to the Supreme Court by August.

"We haven't finalised the name of the cricketer. It will still take some time," Mudgal told IANS.

The name of former India captain Sourav Ganguly is doing the rounds as the possible candidate.

Vidushpat Singhania, who is the secretary of the committee, said the body decided on the modalities of the investigation.

"The Committee held its first meeting in Delhi in the office of Justice Mudgal and discussed and decided the modalities of further investigation," he said.

The Supreme Court earlier this month appointed Justice Mukul Mudgal -- retired chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court -- to probe the spot-fixing and betting allegations against 13 people, including some cricketers who played the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013, and inaction thereon by board president N. Srinivasan.

Justice Mudgal will be assisted by senior IPS officer B.B. Mishra, who is deputy director general of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The team will have three police officers, one each from police forces from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Except for arresting, the investigating team will have all the powers to call and examine people it deems fit and record their statements.