Srinivasan must step down as BCCI chief for fair IPL probe: SC

New Delhi: In a significant observation, the Supreme Court Tuesday said that for a fair investigation into the allegations of betting in the IPL, BCCI president N. Srinivasan has to step down.

"In our opinion, Srinivasan has to step down for a fair investigation into the allegation of betting," said Justice A.K. Patnaik in the course of the hearing on the report of Justice Mudgal that went into the allegations of betting and spot fixing in the IPL. As senior counsel C.A. Sundaram sought to defend the action by the BCCI, Justice Patnaik said: "We will show the papers. You see it and tell us as a counsel about your opinion and not as a paid counsel for Srinivasan." At one stage, comparing the two reports - one by an earlier enquiry committee comprising two retired judges of the Madras High Court and the other by Justice Mudgal appointed by the apex court, Justice Patnaik asked: "Can we say that the probe report was managed and if we say so, then what will be the consequences."