BCCI president-in-exile N. Srinivasan on Friday pleaded in the Supreme Court to allow him to resume his office as the president following the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee absolving him of his involvement in betting or match fixing.
The panel, while coming to the conclusion that Mr. Srinivasan did not scuttle any investigation, said he and four other BCCI officials did not take any action against a player (individual 3 in the report whose identity has been withheld).
In his response to the report, Mr. Srinivasan said “the findings clearly vindicate my stand that all the allegations made against him by the Cricket Association of Bihar and others inimical to me were completely false, baseless and motivated out of malice.”
On his not taking action against the Player 3, he said it was not correct. At the relevant time, Sashank Manohar was the BCCI President and as a Secretary he learnt from the Indian Cricket Team manager Ranjib Biswal that he had sent as report to the then BCCI President at the end of the tour.
He said as a Secretary he was never instructed by the President to do anything in the matter. He said the tour report was not sent to him. However he had spoken to the player concerned and warned him as it was only a minor incident. Therefore it was incorrect to say that he and four other officials did not take any action. As the then President had dealt with the issue directly, he said he could not be attributed with any inaction.
He said other than the observation about inaction with regard to the minor incident there was absolutely nothing in the report incriminating him. Further as explained by Mr. Ranjib Biswal that the incident involving player 3 was not in relation to the IPL or any corrupt activity or betting or gambling. He said on March 28 the court had recorded an undertaking from him that he would not discharge his duties as President of BCCI till the investigation was completed. Now that the probe was over there was absolutely no reason for him to continue to stay away from his elected position in the BCCI.
He said he had already lost close to a whole year of his elected term on the basis of wholly false and motivated charges. Hence he prayed for discharging him from his undertaking and allow him to resume his office as BCCI President.
In its response the BCCI said the player concerned was reprimanded for the minor incident not in relation to the IPL. It said “Reprimand is a penalty contemplated under the Regulations for Players, Team officials, Managers, Umpires and Administrators of BCCI Code 2008.” Under these circumstances, the BCCI said the conclusion that none of the officials including Mr. Srinivasan took any action against the Player no 3 was incorrect and pleaded for passing appropriate orders. The case comes up for further hearing on November 24.
