Chennai: The BCCI today fully stood behind embattled President-in-exile N Srinivasan in the wake of the Mudgal Committee clearing him of betting and match fixing allegations while backing IPL COO Sundar Raman in his legal battle in the Supreme Court.
A meeting of the Board's Emergent Working Committee here decided to postponed the Annual General Meeting to elect its new office bearers, including the President, scheduled on November 20, to December 17.
Sundar Raman, who was accused of being in touch with a bookie's contact, also got the Board's backing.
The Board backed Srinivasan, who has also been cleared of allegations that he tried to subvert the probe. BCCI said the charges against Srinivasan were aimed at destabilising the Board. Srinivasan is currently also the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“The members noted the conclusions in the final report of the Mudgal committee and felt that there is no taint on the conduct of Mr Srinivasan and the allegations levelled against him by unscrupulous elements were baseless and were aimed at destabilising the working of the BCCI,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Besides, the working committee also heard Raman's explanation with regards to charges against him in the report, which was submitted to the Supreme Court. The apex court will continue to hear the matter on November 24.
“Members were given a copy of the final report of the Justice Mudgal committee and the conclusions were explained and discussed,” the BCCI said.
“Sundar Raman gave his explanation relating to his role with reference to the conclusion relating to him in the report of Mudgal committee. The members heard his explanation and decided that the Board should support Mr Sundar Raman to represent himself before the Supreme Court,” it added.
“The working committee postponed the 85th Annual General Meeting of the BCCI, originally scheduled to be held on November 20. The meeting now will be held on December 17, 2014 at 11:30 am, at Park Sheraton, Chennai,” the statement said.
The Mudgal report, while clearing Srinivasan of serious charges, had, however, stated that he did not act against an unnamed cricketer accused of misconduct while his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra were found guilty of betting that could leave their teams—CSK and RR—in trouble.
The three-member committee confirmed Meiyappan was a team official (Team Principal) of Chennai Super Kings while Kundra's “infractions violated BCCI/IPL Anti Corruption Code”. Kundra has already denied the allegations.
The Committee—headed by retired High Court Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal with Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao and senior advocate Nilay Dutta as members— held that Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was involved in betting but not in match fixing.
