RPN Singh rules out ban of IPL

Minister of State for Home Affairs says it's right to impose ban just like that because of a few culprits

Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh Friday said it would not be right to ban the Indian Premier League (IPL) in view of the fresh revelations in the spot fixing scandal, and promised to act tough against the guilty.

"I don't think so it's right to impose ban just like that because of a few culprits. Cricket is such a game, which is watched and praised all over the country, especially by youngsters," Singh told media here.

"We can see that such a big scam has taken place. The IPL should be continued only after a pure and a clean investigation," he added.

• Ban all IPL fixers, demands Sharad Yadav

Meanwhile, Suresh Raini, coach of a cricket academy in Bhopal, said politicians, industrialists and the big-wigs of the Bollywood work hand-in-glove to fulfill their vested interest.

"When people from the film industry, politicians and industrialists work together then they tend to do anything in order win be it something wrong, right, legal or illegal and in Cricket also these wrong methods are being opted by giving money to the players. It is not at all good and is just spoiling the game," said Suresh.

Indian cricket has been thrown into disarray because of the IPL spot-fixing scandal, which led to the arrest of three players, including former Test player S Sreesanth, and several bookies with underworld connections.

• Spot-fixing impact: IPL viewership drops 14%

The scandal has reached the doorstep of BCCI President N Srinivasan, with Mumbai Police summoning his son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings owner Gurunath Meiyappan for questioning after his name cropped up during the interrogation of betting suspect and Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh.