BCCI moots 3-man panel to probe IPL

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday decided to suggest to the Supreme Court a three-member committee to probe the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal that has put a question mark on its credibility

.

In a meeting, the all-powerful working committee of the board resolved to suggest names of former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri, former chief justice of Calcutta High Court J N Patel and former CBI director R K Raghavan as members of the probe committee. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s name was also considered before the working committee zeroed in on the three persons.

On April 16, the Supreme Court said N Srinivasan and 12 others named in the Justice Mukul Mudgal committee report should be investigated by the BCCI to maintain its institutional autonomy. A bench of justices A K Patnaik and F M Ibrahim Kalifulla had expressed reservations about the idea of a probe by a special investigation team or the CBI, which might affect that autonomy. The court further said it would prefer a committee constituted by the BCCI to look into the issue.

The apex court is expected to consider the suggestion in the next hearing on April 22 and pass orders on the future course of the probe. An official, who attended the Working Committee meeting, said the court will decide on the person who will head the committee.

Mumbai Cricket Association Joint Secretary P V Shetty, who attended the meeting, said a special general body meeting will be held on the first week of May to find a replacement for Srinivasan in the BCCI Disciplinary Committee as per the apex court order.

Raghavan, who had headed the CBI inquiry into  match-fixing case in 1999-2000, said he will do his best as a member of the probe committee. “I would look to contribute and give my best. This is not a new territory for me as I was there in 1999-2000 match-fixing case. So, that experience will help me greatly in participating in this investigation,” he added.