The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the Chennai Super Kings should be “terminated without further enquiry” from the Indian Premier League because one of the team’s officials, Gurunath Meiyappan, has been indicted for betting by the Justice Mudgal panel.
Meiyappan, son-in-law of suspended BCCI president N Srinivasan who claimed he worked as a team principal for the Chennai Super Kings, is accused of betting on the IPL games. The Mudgal Committee, which submitted its report on November 17, had indicted Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals franchise co-owner Raj Kundra of betting and confirmed their role in their teams but cleared Srinivasan of match fixing and scuttling the probe.
The apex court asked about the exact share holding pattern of India Cements, which owns the Chennai Super Kings franchise. Srinivasan is the Managing Director of India Cements.
In further setback for Srinivasan, the Supreme Court wanted fresh elections in the BCCI and asked all those involved with the IPL betting scam to stay away from it. The annual general meeting of the BCCI is scheduled on December 17 where Srinivasan, who is already the chairman of the International Cricket Council, is seeking another term.
The Supreme Court had on Monday blasted Srinivasan for conflict of interest, asking how somebody within the sports body is also holding a franchise in the Indian Premier League. “Your (Srinivasan) duty as a president is to keep the show (IPL) running and to keep it clean. What is your duty as a team owner? To win the tournament,” the apex court noted.
The apex court ruling came after Srinivasan petitioned that he may be restored to his position as BCCI chief and be allowed to function. On Thursday, the Supreme Court also gave the BCCI ten days to initiate action against Srinivasan and prepare grounds for fresh elections of its managing committee.