The Cricket Association of Bihar on Monday urged the Supreme Court to order cancellation of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the IPL.
Making this submission before a Bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and Ibrahim Kalifulla, senior counsel for the CAB, Nalini Chidambaram quoting the Mudgal Committee report dated 10.2.2014, said “it discloses quite clearly that officials of the BCCI as well as franchisee i.e. CSK indulged in cover-up and made attempts to mislead the committee. They are therefore, liable for action under IPL operational rules as well as Anti-Corruption Code.”
She alleged that India Cements had tried to cover up the acts of Gurunath Meiyappan and his role by giving misleading reply to the Committee. She said “the said act clearly tantamounts to a cover-up.” In view of the findings of the committee, the franchisee of CSK was required to be terminated forthwith, she said.
Referring to the panel’s report on the involvement of Individual 2 (name of a player whose identify is withheld), counsel said “the identity of individual 2 must be revealed. If individual 2 is Mr. Dhoni, it assumes relevance and importance as he is an important player associated with Chennai Super Kings or India Cements, the company whose promotee is Mr. Srinivasan. Then the same would involve a grave conflict of interest. In fact it is for this reason that identity of all the individuals may be required to be disclosed so that in terse connection and conflict of interests may be brought on record.”
Justice Thakur told Ms. Chidambaram “you argue on the assumption that your inference is correct.”
Counsel said: “It would be of serious consequences if insider information of CSK taken from a key player was being passed on by Mr. Meiyappan to bookies. The over arching influence of Mr. Srinivasan, who controls BCCI, CSK and India Cements is thus apparent.” The Bench asked her to formulate the issues for the consideration of the court. Arguments will continue on Tuesday.
