Srini must step down, says SC
26 March 2014 12:44 AM GMT
Terming Srinivasan’s refusal to quit so far as ‘nauseating’, the apex court bench headed by justice A K Patnaik reportedly told the BCCI lawyer ‘You are filled with filth, there needs to be serious cleaning’.
Raising serious questions on the findings of the two-member BCCI enquiry commission which gave clean chit to Srinivasan, the bench asked if the move was ‘managed’. Observing that allegations levelled by the three-member probe panel are of such serious nature, it said BCCI cannot be entrusted with a fair investigation.
It also wondered how the enquiry committee concluded there was no evidence to suggest India Cements, owner of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings of which Srinivasan is the MD, was not involved in betting or spot-fixing.
‘Whether you will act according to it is a big big question. If cricket has to remain clean why these things should happen? It is because people who are in control have not taken any steps to control the situation,’ the bench said.
Tuesday’s development, especially the strong language used by SC, is believed to have caught BCCI by surprise and thrown it into some disarray. While Srinivasan has refused to comment, three vice-presidents of the board said there was no option but for him to comply with the court’s orders. A BCCI meeting is likely to be convened on Wednesday to decide on BCCI’s response.
‘If SC feels Srinivasan should step down for a fair probe, I think it’s reasonable. But if the other version is true (court’s observation that why is he (Srinivasan) sticking to the chair? It’s nauseating), it is serious,’ said Ravi Savant, one of the vice-presidents. Asked what course BCCI is likely to take, Savant said it will have to be decided by the general body. ‘The general body has to fill up the vacancy as per the constitution of the Board,’ he said.
Raising serious questions on the findings of the two-member BCCI enquiry commission which gave clean chit to Srinivasan, the bench asked if the move was ‘managed’. Observing that allegations levelled by the three-member probe panel are of such serious nature, it said BCCI cannot be entrusted with a fair investigation.
It also wondered how the enquiry committee concluded there was no evidence to suggest India Cements, owner of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings of which Srinivasan is the MD, was not involved in betting or spot-fixing.
‘Whether you will act according to it is a big big question. If cricket has to remain clean why these things should happen? It is because people who are in control have not taken any steps to control the situation,’ the bench said.
Tuesday’s development, especially the strong language used by SC, is believed to have caught BCCI by surprise and thrown it into some disarray. While Srinivasan has refused to comment, three vice-presidents of the board said there was no option but for him to comply with the court’s orders. A BCCI meeting is likely to be convened on Wednesday to decide on BCCI’s response.
‘If SC feels Srinivasan should step down for a fair probe, I think it’s reasonable. But if the other version is true (court’s observation that why is he (Srinivasan) sticking to the chair? It’s nauseating), it is serious,’ said Ravi Savant, one of the vice-presidents. Asked what course BCCI is likely to take, Savant said it will have to be decided by the general body. ‘The general body has to fill up the vacancy as per the constitution of the Board,’ he said.
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