Salve accuses MS Dhoni of lying about Meiyappan's role in CSK

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Appearing for Cricket Association of Bihar, senior counsel Harish Salve on Thursday accused Indian Cricket Team Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni of being "guilty of corrupt practice" by lying before the before the Mudgal Committee on the role of the BCCI president`s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan in Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Appearing before bench of Justices AK Patnaik and FMI Kalifulla, Salve raised questions on the conduct of captain of the Chennai Super Kings IPL team, Dhoni, who is also vice president of India Cements. The statement of Dhoni before the Committee that Meiyappan had no role in the CSK was a "cover up" that amounted to a corrupt practice. Salve told the court that Srinivasan was in the cricketing body wearing different hats. At one point he was the member of BCCI in his capacity as Tamil Nadu Cricket Association`s (TNCA) head, then in different capacities as office bearer of the national cricketing body also Indian Cements owning the franchise of CSK. Salve said that Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee report should not be left to BCCI for taking action but should be investigated further. He said that the "report conclusively shows that the conflict of interest in action and cover up is writ large." Salve took the court through the material on record, pointing to how the activities of Meiyappan were sought to be camouflaged behind the cover of his being a "cricket enthusiast". He said that efforts were made to erase his other activities when the lid was blown off. In a move that is bound to shake up Indian cricket establishment, the apex court on Thursday proposed the name of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar to replace the incumbent Narayanaswami Srinivasan as the BCCI president and suggested that Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals be kept out of the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) that starts April 16. "In the place of Srinivasan, we propose to appoint an experienced cricket player like Sunil Gavaskar to replace him and function as BCCI president," the bench said. Reacting to the development, Gavaskar said that if the apex court is reposing faith in him he should be able to carry out his role. "If the highest court is reposing this faith in me, I`ll be happy to do what they tell me to do. As an opening batsman, you must be ready for all kinds of challenges. Will do everything to the best of my abilities," he said. The court, which will pass its order today, has also sought keeping away any person associated with Sinivasan- promoted India Cements, the owner of CSK, from being involved in the functioning of the BCCI.