Top

Rajasthan Royals could still be part of IPL-8

RR had tried to distance itself from Raj Kundra, who is found guilty of betting

New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday has left Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings in a state of bother. With both Gurunath Meiyappan (CSK) and Raj Kundra (RR) found guilty of betting, a question mark hangs over the teams’ future.

Read: Srini can't contest BCCI polls; Meiyappan-Kundra involved in betting, rules SC

The SC’s order has put the team officials on alert mode, and they are now exploring ways to stay afloat. The six-month time frame though has left the door open for RR, who could well be part of the IPL-8 that begins on April 8.

Royals’ managing director Shantanu Chari chose “not to make a comment” on the day, but the franchise in fact had tried to distance itself from Kundra late last year itself. In an affidavit filed in November, 2014, Chari — on behalf of Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Limited — had said that Kundra held 11 per cent stake in the franchise through his “family concerns”, stressing that he did not directly own it.

Chari also said that Kundra’s family held the smallest stake of the four stakeholders who owned the franchise.

On Thursday, the Royals’ lawyer Ashok Desai contested that even if Kundra was held to be guilty, the “question whether any punishment/sanctions could be imposed upon a franchise will have to be considered in the totality of the circumstances.”

( Source : dc )
Next Story