Kolkata/Delhi/Chennai: The Indian cricket board yesterday suspended Chennai Super Kings chief executive officer Gurunath Meiyappan, even as board chief N Srinivasan, refusing to step down, announced that a commission would probe his son-in-law’s role in the spot fixing scandal, whose ramifications seem to be widening.
A Mumbai police team raided Meiyappan’s house in Chennai, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) promised to assist the police and regulatory authorities in the investigation into the scandal,
In Delhi, a court remanded arrested Indian pacer S Sreesanth and cricketer Ajit Chandila to two more days of police custody till May 28 while a third player Ankeet Chavan was sent to judicial custody till June 4 in connection with the IPL spot-fixing scandal case. The arrest of the three Rajasthan Royals cricketers May 16 had blown the lid off the biggest scam to hit Indian cricket of late. In Kolkata, BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale announced Meiyappan’s suspension.
“Pending further investigation and any subsequent hearing by the BCCI Disciplinary Committee or the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee, Meiyappan has been suspended by the BCCI from any involvement in the sport of cricket and in particular from any involvement with the Chennai Super Kings team,” Jagdale said.
Meiyappan gave himself up late Friday night to Mumbai police, who arrested him after a three-hour grilling. Meiyappan’s name cropped up after police arrested Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh, who was seen in the VIP boxes during Indian Premier League franchise Super Kings’ matches. Amid the clamour for his ouster from the top BCCI post, Srinivasan held a media conference here hours before the IPL final between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
“I will not shirk my dutythe BCCI will act without fear or favour to investigate, and if the circumstances so warrant punish any player, match official, team management or franchise that have breached BCCI or IPL regulations.”
He termed as untrue media reports of a “revolt in the BCCI” and said there was unity in the board. “I have not been asked by anybody to resign, to the contrary, my support is complete and I refuse to yield to unfair and motivated attacks. I intend to continue my duties as president of the BCCI,” Srinivasan said.IANS
