The first meeting of the enquiry commission appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to probe into the allegations of betting and spot fixing in the IPL, season VI matches will be held at Bangalore on June 21. The members of the Commission are Justice T. Jayarama Chouta and Justice R. Balasubramanian, former Judges of Madras High Court. Though the BCCI had appointed its secretary, Sanjay Jagdale, as a third member, after he resigned his post, it was decided to proceed with the enquiry with two members.
Speaking to The Hindu from Chennai, Justice Balasubramanian said it was unanimously agreed that Justice Chouta, who was senior to him would be the chairman of the Commission. He said: “I have received the terms of reference and formal complaints against whom the enquiry is to be held. We have asked a senior BCCI official to be present at the meeting to work out the modalities for conducting the probe.” Asked whether any time frame had been fixed, he said the time schedule and the number of witnesses and others to be summoned for adducing evidence would be discussed in Friday’s meeting.
He said the BCCI had sent four complaints, viz. to probe the role of Chennai Super Kings principal Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI President N. Srinivasan, the role of India Cements, owners of Chennai Super Kings, Jaipur IPL Pvt Ltd, owners of Rajasthan Royals Franchise and its co-owner Raj Kundra, who had been suspended on charges of gambling in IPL VI matches. He said a detailed procedure had been prescribed under the IPL governing rules for conducting the probe and wide powers had been given for summoning anyone for adducing evidence.
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He said all the records relating to the scope of the enquiry had been received by him and all newspaper clippings pertaining to the various allegations had been received. Asked whether the Commission would brief the media on the meeting’s outcome, Justice Balasubramanian said as the Commission’s members, it would not be possible for them to brief the media and the BCCI official would address the media.