Patel should disclose if he is related to Shivlal Yadav: Pawar

Former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar wants Justice J N Patel, who is part of a three-man probe panel set up by the board to investigate the IPL corruption scandal, to come clean on his reported links with the body’s interim President Shivlal Yadav.

He also deprecated the presence of former India captain Ravi Shastri on the inquiry committee, citing conflict of interest. ‘I think Patel should definitely disclose if he is related to the BCCI’s interim president Shivlal Yadav. If not, then BCCI should clarify and should not allow these type of discussions,’ Pawar said in an interview.

The names of the former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Shastri and ex-CBI director R K Raghavan were approved by the board members at an emergent working committee meeting on Sunday. Their names would be submitted for approval of the Supreme Court which is hearing the the IPL scandal, with the next hearing scheduled on Tuesday.

SC had directed BCCI at the last hearing on April 16 to suggest names of persons who will conduct a ‘fair probe’ into the IPL 6 spot-fixing and betting scandal. The apex court is expected to consider the suggestion by the BCCI and pass orders on the future course of the probe. 

‘I don’t know him (Patel) personally, but I think it is his duty to disclose if this news (information) is correct. This morning, I got a call from some BCCI member that there is a judge J N Patel. I know he was a very upright judge when he was here. He had taken very tough responsibilities and had performed very well. But the issue which I was not aware of. 

'Somebody rang me up from Andhra Pradesh this morning, saying the BCCI’s interim president Shivlal Yadav and Patel are close relatives. Brother-in-law or something like that. I don’t know. ‘If the news is correct, then the people will judge. Generally, I have seen many times (that) a judge, if there is some lawyer who is close to him is there, will immediately recuse himself from the case,’ Pawar said.