Mudgal panel gets 2 months more, plea by Srini rejected
New Delhi, Sept. 1: The Supreme Court Monday rejected N. Srinivasan’s plea for reinstatement as BCCI president, saying he cannot be allowed to take charge till he gets a clean chit from the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee, that is probing him and 12 players in the IPL betting and spot- fixing scandal.
Expressing displeasure over the slow probe, the court directed the panel to complete its investigations in two months, and allowed it to file an interim report on Mr Srinivasan or any other office- bearer under its scrutiny.
A bench of Justices T. S. Thakur and F. M. Ibrahim Kalifulla rejected Mr Srinivasan’s plea that he should be allowed to function as BCCI chief as the board’s AGM is due at the end of this month and his signature is needed to clear the BCCI’s annual accounts.
“Signing the account book is not a ground. This cannot be a ground for reinstatement,” the bench said. The Mudgal Committee, that submitted its interim report in a sealed cover on August 29, had sought more time as it wanted to record the statements of players now on tour in England and also said the voice samples of some people needed to be matched.
New Delhi, Sept. 1: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected N. Srinivasan’s plea for reinstatement as BCCI president saying he cannot be allowed to take up the charge till he gets a clean chit from the Justice Mudgal committee which is probing him and 12 players in the IPL betting and spot- fixing scandal.
Expressing displeasure over the slow speed of the probe, the court asked the panel to complete its investigation within two months and also allowed it to file an interim report against Srinivasan or any other office bearer under its scrutiny.
A bench of justices T. S. Thakur and F. M. Ibrahim Kalifulla turned down Srinivasan’s plea that he should be allowed to discharge his function as the AGM is expected to take place at the end of this month and his signature is needed for clearing the annual account of the board.
Two months time for completion of probe does not seem realistic. The way in which it is going on, it will take five years. It’s going to be a tough task for the committee.
— SUPREME COURT BENCH
“Signing account book is not a ground. This cannot be a ground for reinstatement,” the bench said.
At the outset of proceedings, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Srinivasan, pleaded the court to reveal whether there was anything against him in justice Mudgal’s interim report so that he be allowed to take up the charge of BCCI if there is nothing against him.
The bench said that no comments have been made against Srinivasan in the report but the probe is still going on and he cannot be allowed to function as BCCI president.
It said that the committee sought more time as it wants to record the statements of some players who are on England tour and also voice samples of some people need to be matched.
“We saw the report. Two months time for completion of probe does not seem realistic. The way in which it is going on, it will take five years. It’s going to be a tough task for the committee,” said the bench.