Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals suspended for 2 years from IPL

New Delhi, July 14: In a massive blow to the Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) teams were on Tuesday (July 14) suspended from the league for a period of 2 years.

Explained: Chennai, Rajasthan can still play IPL

While delivering his panel's verdict, Justice RM Lodha said the committee proposes to ban these 2 franchises for 2 years from immediate effect as Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra were found guilty of betting on IPL matches in 2013. The 3-member committee is headed by former Chief Justice of India Lodha and was appointed by the Supreme Court in January this year.

Meiyappan was a Team Principal of CSK and Kundra, a co-owner of the Jaipur-based team. Also, former BCCI president N Srinivasan's son-in-law Meiyappan was banned for life from involvement in cricket, for betting.

Announcing his verdict, Justice Lodha said Meiyappan was involved in betting and tarnished the game. The panel revealed that Meiyappan had suffered a loss of Rs 60 lakh while betting on IPL matches in 2013 season.

Kundra was also suspended for life from involvement in any cricket conducted by BCCI. Kundra was also found guilty of placing betting on IPL games.

Addressing the media after pronouncing their verdict, the three-member committee was asked whether they have contemplated action IPL COO Sundar Raman, who was also accused of wrongdoing.

Justice Lodha said it will be some time before his fate is decided. "About Sundar Raman, we examined the material about him and we believe it requires further investigation. Vivek

Priyadarshi has been appointed by the Supreme Court to look into it and he is examining the matter, we are awaiting his report. After that we will decide what will be the action," he said.

The committee said its observations with respect to the much-talked about conflict of interest in the BCCI would be given after completing interactions with various stakeholders of the game.

"Conflict of interest questions have been raised, once we complete the process of interacting with all the stakeholders, we will take a view on that. That exercise is not complete. This order is confined to determining the quantum of punishment to the two individuals and the franchises," he
said.

"We have interacted with 40-45 people, we are yet to meet a few others. Once that is done we will decide what guidelines are to be given. Our idea is to get inputs from all stakeholders. It is not confined to cricket administrators and politicians," he added.

He also refused to comment on the criminal cases pending against the suspended officials, saying, "No aspect touching criminal liability has been decided by us."

On whether the two franchisees would be allowed to participate in case their is a change in ownership, Justice Lodha that aspect is for the BCCI to decide.

"This question was brought to us. But the BCCI has to take a call and whatever the legal course is there, it is available. You must appreciate that we cannot address every aspect of the matter," he said.

Asked whether the committee took a considered view of the impact this ruling will have on the players attached with the two suspended franchises, Justice Lodha said the game is bigger than the individuals.

"Players will not be attached to a franchisee which has been suspended. We thought that if cricket is bigger than individuals then financial loss to players and franchises is not of significance," he said.

OneIndia News/PTI