SC not for giving Mudgal panel report to Lodha committee

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea for handing over the sealed-cover report prepared by Justice Mukul Mudgal panel, purportedly containing allegations against 13 persons, including some players, to the Lodha committee for necessary action.

A bench comprising Justices T S Thakur and FMI Kalifullah said if the Justice R M Lodha Committee asked for it, then the court could decide. The court said the reputation of the people should not be let affected.

The court, while dismissing an application filed by the Cricket Association of Bihar, a derecognised body, suggested its counsel senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram to make a representation before the Lodha panel for seeking the third report of the Mudgal panel.

The Mugal panel was set up by the court to probe corruption allegations in the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It had found serious infraction of rules by the officials and others.

The counsel urged the court to refer the Mudgal panel report to the Lodha panel for action.

The court appointed the Lodha committee also comprising former SC judges Justices Ashok Bhan and R V Raveendran and it slapped life ban on Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra and suspended their IPL franchisees, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, respectively, for two years.

Deadline extended

Meanwhile, the court allowed a plea made by the Lodha panel for extension of five months for giving its report on reforms in the Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI). On January 22, the court constituted the Lodha panel to act on the recommendations of the Mudgal panel.

The bench observed, “We hope some reforms may come, which ultimately would help the BCCI in overcoming the problems.”