SC refuses plea against Srini

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would prefer to see the findings of the Mudgal panel report on the corruption charges in IPL-6 before taking a call on the participation of N Srinivasan in the Annual General Meeting of the BCCI on November 20.

A bench of Justices T S Thakur and F M I Kalifullah refused to allow a plea made by the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) seeking declaration that continuance of office bearers of the BCCI was illegal since the board failed to conduct the elections before September 30 deadline. Senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram, appearing for the CAB, sought a restraint order against Srinivasan from participating in the AGM.

The court, however, pointed out that the Justice Mukul Mudgal committee, looking into betting and spot-fixing charges, is scheduled to submit its final report by November 10 and it would like to first see the outcome of the report.

“Let us wait for the report of the probe committee. Let the decks be cleared for the elections. We had given the last order allowing him (Srinivasan) to participate in the election but he will not hold the office (of President) till further order. Till then you keep quite. We are not concerned at this stage with the AGM. Please wait till the report of the Justice Mudgal Committee is filed," the bench told her.

The counsel, however, contended since Srinivasan has been directed not to function as President of the BCCI, he could not be allowed to contest the coming polls. "All those office-bearers have no locus-standi to participate in the AGM and all are trying to protect interest of Srinivasan," she alleged.