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Setback for N Srinivasan as Supreme Court grants Mudgal panel more time to complete probe

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With Supreme Court on Monday refusing to reinstate N Srinivasan as the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) president pending Justice Mukul Mudgal-led panel inquiry, this would surely have grave implications on the coming elections of the Board, slated for later this month.

The apex court also granted two more months to Justice Mudgal Committee to complete its investigation on the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing and betting controversy. The Mudgal panel had earlier submitted its interim report after conducting a few investigations, but it has to get more details after meeting a few players.

Leading lawyer and former union minister Kapil Sibal appeared for Srinivasan, who was desperate to seek some relief from the Court in order to be eligible to contest BCCI elections.

Though, it will be East Zone's turn to nominate their representative for the top post. But dna has learnt from reliable sources that Srinivasan had managed to get at least four of East's cricket associations – Assam, Tripura, Orissa and Jharkhand – to forward his candidature for the post of president.

With the prevailing scenario, it would be almost impossible for Srinivasan and his supporters to risk his candidature pending Supreme Court inquiry and this could cost him dear. The only option left for his camp now is to postpone the Annual General Meeting (AGM) till inquiry report is submitted in the Court.

"This may not be possible because this has never happened in the history of BCCI. But, there is enough time left to deliberate on this subject. Let us talk to other members too before reaching any conclusion," a senior office bearer told this paper after the apex court decision on Monday.

dna had reported that in its September 1 edition that the Justice Mudgal committee has already found enough evidences against BCCI president's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and his IPL team Chennai Super Kings' in their four-month long inquiry, which is sufficient to nail them both.

Aditya Verma, the petitioner, who raised his voice against alleged spot-fixing and betting in IPL 2013, said he was happy with the decision of the apex court. "The BCCI plea had only one motive – to get Srinivasan back into the board by hook or crook and make him eligible for the post of president another three-year term in the next AGM later this month. What is going on in the BCCI is highly undemocratic," said Verma, adding: "I am happy that the Honourable Court has not reinstated Srinivasan. The BCCI might try it again but we are going to oppose it."

BJP holds the aces
Given the situation, the ruling BJP party at the Centre now holds all aces. With BJP national president Amit Shah and finance minister Arun Jaitley being actively involved in the politics of BCCI, it will hardly be any surprise that they will have the final say in "who will rule BCCI post September 2014".
All BCCI members are known for shifting their loyalties in the past in order to be on the right side of the ruling faction. "One has to understand that the ruling party always has three committed votes – Services, University and Railways – on its side. And, with the other BJP-led state associations also under pressure to back the party diktat, it may result in shifting of minimum eight to nine votes away from Srinivasan, if it comes to that," said a senior BCCI official, who is also in dilemma like many others.

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