New Delhi: The Supreme
Court-appointed Mudgal Committee has cleared N. Srinivasan, the in-limbo
president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), of allegations
of match-fixing, paving a way for a possible return by him to the top post in
Indian cricket. Whether he can do that, however, depends on how the case filed
by the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), based on which the Supreme Court
ordered the investigation, progresses in the apex court, and how the court
eventually rules. The report of the committee, headed by former judge Mukul
Mudgal and publicized in full for the first time on Monday, also absolved
Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan of charges of match-fixing although
it did find him, and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra, guilty of betting in
last year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament. That raises questions about
the future of Chennai Super Kings, the team owned by Srinivasan’s India Cements
Ltd, and Rajasthan Royals. The company and Srinivasan had passed off
Meiyappan’s role in the team as that of an “enthusiast”, but the Mudgal
committee’s report says: “Investigations have confirmed that this individual
was a team official of a franchise.” Meiyappan was arrested in May last year by
Mumbai Police probing illegal betting, but was released on bail after two
weeks. The controversy erupted after some cricketers, including former Test
paceman S. Sreesanth, were arrested for allegedly giving away a minimum number
of runs in specific overs for payoffs by racketeers. Sreesanth has been banned
for life from playing competitive cricket. “According to the report, it seems
clear there doesn’t seem much to link Srinivasan to the activities that Meiyappan
undertook himself,” said a senior executive from a leading sports marketing
agency who spoke on condition of anonymity. “For Srinivasan, it’s an act of
omission rather than commission,” said the executive, adding that both
Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings risked penal action. According to IPL
rules, a team can be suspended if its officials bring the event into disrepute.
The big loser from the revelations could be Sundar Raman, the chief executive
officer (CEO) of IPL. Unlike the other three indicted by the report who are
either team owners or honorary officials, Raman is employed by the BCCI. The
report says that Raman (individual 12) “knew a contact of a bookie This
individual (Raman) and had contacted him eight times in one season. admitted
knowing the contact of the bookies, but however claimed to be unaware of his
connection with betting activities.” Raman was in the know of malpractices
taking place in the Observing that tournament, the committee has pulled him up
for his subsequent failure to take action against such wrongdoing. “This
individual (Raman) also accepted that he had received information about
individual 1 (Meiyappan) and individual 11 (Rajasthan Royals co-owner Kundra)
taking part in betting activities, but was informed by the ICC-ACSU chief that
this was not actionable information,” the report said. “This individual (Raman)
also accepted that this information was not conveyed to any other individual.”
ICC-ACSU is short for International Cricket Council Anti-Corruption Security Unit.
Much like Raman, Srinivasan, also chairman of the ICC, has also been pulled up
by the report for not taking action against an infraction by a player. It
observed that Srinivasan “along with four other BCCI officials was aware of the
violation of the Players’ Code of Conduct by Individual 3 (not named), but no
action was taken against Individual 3 by any of the aforesaid officials who
were aware of this infraction.” A senior BCCI member noted that Srinivasan
hadn’t personally been accused of match-fixing or betting. “But what is
disappointing about his conduct is that he failed in his duty from taking
action on those who were close to him. This is real conflict of interest,” he
said on condition of anonymity. On Raman, the same BCCI member said: “He has to
be suspended immediately. As the CEO of the IPL, he is responsible for
everything in the league. How could he allow these things to happen? He too
failed in his duty.” Kundra has also been heavily indicted by the committee in
its report. On Kundra’s activities, the report says: “This individual (Kundra)
was in touch with bookies about betting and thus by not reporting contact with
the bookie has violated BCCI/IPL Anti-Corruption Code. The Committee also found
that the investigation against this individual was abruptly and without reason
stopped by the Rajasthan Police upon receiving the case...” It adds: “The
committee found that a friend of individual 11 (Kundra) was a known punter. The
said punter has given section 164 statements to the effect that he was placing
bets on behalf of individual 11 (Kundra). Individual 11 (Kundra) had introduced
him (punter) to another bookie who dealt with larger stakes. Section 161
statement made by another player confirmed that Individual 11 (Kundra)
introduced him to a bookie. Materials on record indicate that Individual 11
(Kundra) was placing bets or was at the minimum standing guarantee for his
punter friend. These infractions also violate the BCCI/IPL Anti-Corruption
Code.” That puts Kundra’s team in the same position as Chennai Super Kings.
According to clause 11.3 (c) of the IPL franchise agreements, the agreements
can be terminated if “the Franchise, any Franchise Group Company and/or any
owner acts in any way which has a material adverse effect upon the reputation or
the standing of the League, BCCI-IPL, BCCI, the Franchise, the team (or any
other team in the League) and/or the game of cricket.” Srinivasan declined to
comment as did India Cements. “The findings of the Mukul Mudgal Committee
report clear the decks for N. Srinivasan’s re-election (as BCCI president) and
we will definitely back him up,” said a senior BCCI official who is close to
Srinivasan, on condition of anonymity The same official also said IPL will
survive the investigation. “IPL 8 (in 2015) will happen and whatever directions
are issued by the Supreme Court will be followed,” he said. On the alleged
involvement of players in spot-fixing and betting, the official said only some
small-time players had been involved in such offences. “Those who have done it
are small-time players; severe action will be taken against them, including a
life-time ban.” He added that Meiyappan, indicted for his involvement in
betting, has been banned by the BCCI from entering stadiums and that will
continue. On Raman, he said: “BCCI is bold and mature enough to take steps
against such people.”
PRAVEEN SHARMA
PGDM 3RD SEM
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