Top court to hear BCCI’s tapes plea

The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear on April 16 the BCCI’s plea seeking transcripts of the audio tapes containing statements of board president N. Srinivasan and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, recorded by the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee which probed allegations of IPL betting and spot-fixing. The BCCI’s plea was opposed by Bihar Cricket Association which questioned the locus standi of the board in seeking the transcripts of statements of Srinivasan, who has been kept out of the affairs of the cricket, and Dhoni. Senior advocate Ajeet Sinha, appear- ing for the BCA, submitted that the BCCI cannot seek copies of the transcripts on behalf of Srinivasan and Dhoni. He submitted that if the transcripts are supplied to the BCCI then those should also be given to BCA.

BCCI counsel C.A. Sundaram said without the transcripts of the audio tapes it would be very difficult for him to respond in the matter. A bench comprising A.K. Patnaik and J.S. Khehar posted the matter for April 16, saying it will go into every aspect on the next date of hearing.

In its application filed earlier, the BCCI had also sought the transcripts of statements by Sundar Raman, the Chief Operating Officer of the IPL. Earlier, the apex court had proposed the name of veteran cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar to head the board for IPL-7 during pendency of the case in the apex court.