Srinivasan seeks SC nod to continue as BCCI president

The court will hear the matter on Wednesday when the plea of BCCI seeking transcripts of audio tapes containing statements of Srinivasan and Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, recorded by the Mudgal committee which probed allegations of IPL betting and spot fixing, will be taken up. 

In an affidavit, Srinivasan claimed that he never tampered with disciplinary proceedings or criminal investigations against his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who is one of the accused in IPL-6 spot-fixing scam. Responding to the allegations levelled by the BCA and adverse remarks made by the apex court, Srinivasan, who is the chairman of the India Cements, the owner of Chennai Super Kings, said he never made any offer to step aside as the board president and a proposal in this regard was given by the BCCI on 27 March.  Srinivasan said the report of the Justice Mukul Mudgal committee concluded that his statement that Meiyappan was a ‘mere cricket enthusiast’ was incorrect and he (Meiyappan) was the ‘public face’ of CSK. 

‘In these circumstances, I would respectfully submit that there is absolutely no reason why I should not be permitted to resume my office as elected president of BCCI unless and until this court conclusively finds material suggesting that I had interfered with investigations by CB-CID and/or compromised the tenure of Sampath Kumar in service. I have never interfered with any part of the disciplinary proceedings or the criminal investigation into my son-in-law and I unconditionally undertake that I will continue to do so in the event this court directs any such proceedings,’ Srinivasan said in the affidavit.  

While requesting the apex court to reconsider its 28 March order in so far as it relates to his position in BCCI, the India Cements Chairman said, ‘I wish to resume my elected office. My tenure ends with September 2014 and I should be allowed to complete my tenure.’