BCCI under fire for ‘ hasty’ probe report

The BCCI’s rush to clear the names of those allegedly involved in spot- fixing and betting in IPL- 6 has come under fire, with the sports ministry suggesting it wait till the Delhi and Mumbai police investigation gets over. The two- member BCCI panel hastily cleared Chennai Super Kings’ team principal Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals’ coowner Raj Kundra over “lack of evidence”, but sports secretary P. K. Deb said Monday: “The BCCI may have cleared them, but I think ( it) should wait for the police probe to get over.” Cricketer- politician Kirti Azad also targeted it: “The police is investigating, and the BCCI panel has given them a clean chit. Is the BCCI above the law?”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s decision to hand out clean chits to the accused in the IPL- 6 spot- fixing and betting scandal has evoked a strong response from former India cricketer and member of Parliament Kirti Azad, who has said that the body was acting as if it was above the law.

“Mumbai Police has said that the investigation is still on. Delhi Police is still investigating and the BCCI panel has given them a clean chit. Is BCCI above the law and constitution of the country?” Azad was quoted as saying on Monday.

Azad, who has been waging a long battle against corrupt practices in the Delhi District & Cricket Association, also questioned the increasing political interference in the board matters.

“I don’t blame ( BCCI acting chief) Jagmohan Dalmiya or N. Srinivasan for this. The politicians are hell bent on making BCCI the next Indian Olympic Association,” Azad said.