'Dhoni answerable for lying to probe panel'

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be answerable if an enquiry is ordered into cover up of the IPL betting and fixing scandal since he lied to the probe panel that Gurunath Meiyappan was not associated with CSK in any official capacity, senior Counsel Harish Salve said on Friday.

While deposing before the Mukul Mudgal-headed probe panel, appointed by Supreme Court, Dhoni had corroborated Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief N Srinivasan’s remarks that Meiyappan was merely a cricket enthusiast.

Salve, who appeared in Supreme Court for the petitioner Aditya Verma, secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar, said it was indeed a lie aimed at covering up. “He (Dhoni) said this on record. In one voice with Mr Srinivasan he said that Meiyappan was only an enthusiast. I have no personal knowledge of it, it is the report that said. According to the report, Meiyappan used to sit in the players dug out and was also there in the players auction for the team (CSK). And Dhoni knew it. What was the need for the captain to say that. The definition of corruption includes cover up,” Salve said. Asked if Dhoni was answerable, Salve said, “absolutely,if there is an enquiry for cover up.”

Meanwhile, the BCCI launched a strong defence for Dhoni and tore into the CAB for contending that he had falsely described N Srinivas­an’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan as a cricket enthusiast before a probe panel.