Srinivasan promises fair investigation

ESPNCricinfo: BCCI president N. Srinivasan has promised a fair investigation by a three-member commission, which will include a person independent of the board, into the charges against Gurunath Meiyappan, the CSK official and Srinivasan’s son-in-law who has been arrested, and the three Rajasthan Royals players allegedly involved in spot-fixing. Srinivasan said he would not be part of the commission and would not be part of its appointment or work.

He said the commission would comprise an independent member and two of the following people: IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla, BCCI Vice-President Arun Jaitley, BCCI Treasurer Ajay Shirke, Board Secretary Sanjay Jagdale, and former India captain and commentator Ravi Shastri. This commission, Srinivasan said, would be responsible for investigating and deciding whether Gurunath was an owner of the Super Kings franchise.

Gurunath had been part of the Super Kings table at IPL auctions, at team owners meetings with other franchises, present near the team dug-out and at post-match presentation ceremonies. His Twitter account bio said he was the “team principal” and several articles on the franchise website referred to him as “owner,” as did his IPL accreditation.

However, when Srinivasan was confronted by this question, his answer was evasive and ambiguous.

“We have appointed a commission and in my statement I said the commission will determine this aspect also, and he [Gurunath] has been travelling with the team, he’s been enthusiastic, fine,” Srinivasan said. “What his role was, whether it transcended any rule, I have already read in a statement saying that the commission that is appointed will also deal with it. So I don’t want to say anything because there is an inquiry commission that will go into it. I am not going to sit and explain to you what his role was. India Cements, I understand, has already issued a statement on what his role was and what his role was not, so I don’t think it is necessary for me to go further on this.”

Srinivasan went on to stress on the principles of natural justice, that people are innocent until proven guilty, and accused the media of overstepping boundaries in their reporting of the issue. “Persons who have been suspended by the BCCI, known defaulters, fugitives from the Indian justice system and other vested interests keen to discredit me and the BCCI, have indulged in a smear campaign in the last few days. The unfair attack has been relentless. The TV news channels have been carrying unverifiable statements devoid of truth.