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Gurunath Meiyappan was Chennai Super Kings's 'public face', admits N Srinivasan

President-in-abeyance seeks permission to carry on till end of term; mentions Gavaskar in apex court

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In his last attempt to regain his lost position, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president-in-abeyance N Srinivasan on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking its permission to carry on with his duties till September, when his tenure would end officially.

Srinivasan, in his two affidavits filed before the apex court, stated that he was targeted by several people around and blamed the senior lawyer who appeared on behalf of Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) as unfair and unsubstantiated.

In his effort to prove his innocence, Srinivasan has also questioned the report of Justice Mukul Mudgal probe committee, which was constituted by the apex court itself. "The report of the Probe Committee, in two parts, was submitted to this Hon'ble Court on 10.02.2014. My interaction with the Committee is recorded in the report. The report concluded that my statement that he was a 'Mere Cricket Enthusiast' was incorrect and Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan was the 'public face' of the IPL Team Chennai Super Kings."

Interestingly, this is the first time that Srinivasan has admitted his son-in-law as CSK's public face.

In the two separate affidavits filed on Tuesday, Srinivasan has also denied allegation of senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for CAB, that he was guilty of corruption and cover up and also expressed his ignorance that the sealed envelope submitted by the three-member Mudgal Committee contains any audio tapes having conversation between Vindoo Dara Singh and Meiyappan, both accused of betting during IPL VI.

There were two more affidavits filed separately on Tuesday, first by the terminated IPL franchisee Deccan Chargers and secondly by Rajasthan Royals' owner Raj Kundra denying his role in the IPL spot-fixing case.

The case will come up for hearing on Wednesday at 10.30 am when the plea of BCCI seeking transcripts of audio tapes containing statements of Srinivasan and Indian captain MS Dhoni, recorded by the Mudgal Committee which probed allegations of IPL betting and spot fixing, will also be taken up.

In his submission, Srinivasan has claimed that "he never interfered with disciplinary proceedings or criminal investigations against his Meiyappan, one of the accused in spot-fixing".

He further countered the charges of suspended IPS officer G Sampath Kumar, who initially probed the case, of influencing the investigation. "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."

Requesting the court to reconsider its March 28 order in so far as it relates to his position in BCCI, Srinivasan said: "I wish to resume my elected office. My tenure ends with September 2014 and I should be allowed to complete my tenure."

On the apex court order that any person associated with India Cements should be kept out of the affairs of BCCI, Srinivasan said in the past also various office bearers of the Board included people working in their company and offices for the affairs of the cricket.

Srinivasan has also named Sunil Gavaskar, who has been asked by the Court to look after BCCI's affairs till the end of the IPL season VII, that it was on his request that his company sponsored the India-Australia Test in 2001.

"At the request of Mr. Sunil Gavaskar, the India Cements Ltd sponsored the replay of the 1987 Tied Test between India and Australia when the Australian team toured India and played a Test match in Chennai in 2001, for which a sum of Rs 25 Lakh was paid to Professional Management Group, managed by Mr. Sunil Gavaskar. Further, I have personally cleared several requests from retired cricketers for sponsorship support during benefit games."

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