Decks Cleared For N Srinivasan To Return As BCCI Chief

Kolkata: Srinivasan could stage a comeback as BCCI chief as early as August 2 when the Board's Working Committee and the IPL Governing Council meet in New Delhi to take a final call on the issue.

The decks were on cleared for President-in-exile N Srinivasan's possible return to the BCCI top post after a two-judge probe panel found no evidence against his team Chennai Super Kings in the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal which rocked the sixth edition of the event.

Srinivasan could stage a comeback as BCCI chief as early as August 2 when the Board's Working Committee and the IPL Governing Council meet in New Delhi to take a final call on the issue.

The two-member panel, comprising former High Court Judges T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian, submitted its report to the BCCI Working Committee which met amid intense speculation that the Tamil Nadu strongman could get back the job.

The panel was mandated to enquire into the roles of Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was the Team Prinicipal of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and its co-owner Raj Kundra.

"There is no evidence of any wrongdoing found by the judges against Raj Kundra, India Cements and Rajasthan Royals.
The report will now be forwarded to the IPL Governing Council which will take a final decision when it meets on August 2 in New Delhi," BCCI vice-President Niranjan Shah told reporters.

Since the panel's order is binding on the BCCI which makes it clear that Srinivasan will return as Board chief.

The panel was mandated to enquire into the roles of Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was the Team Prinicipal of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and its co-owner Raj Kundra.

There was, however, no clarity on Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan's role in the scandal and it is learnt that the inquiry commission has not given him a "clean chit".

Shah, when asked whether Meiyappan has been given a clean chit, did not give any answer.

According to a source, Meiyappan has been cleared of spot-fixing in the inquiry report but could be involved in betting though there was no clear evidence.