Nobody can influence my spot-fixing probe, says Justice Chouta

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Bangalore, May 29: Retired Justice T Jayaram Chouta, who is a part of the three-man inquiry commission probing the alleged betting charges against Gurunath Meiyappan, today ruled out any interference from the BCCI chief N Srinivasan and said nobody can influence his investigation.

"As far as I am concerned, nobody can influence me. Even if he (Srinivasan) comes, I don't think so. I will work independently and act according to the Constitution," former Karnataka and Madras High Court Judge Chouta told PTI here.

The BCCI had yesterday constituted a three-member inquiry commission including two retired High Court judges to go into allegations against Meiyappan, son-in-law of Srinivasan, who has been arrested on charges of betting on the recently-concluded Indian Premier League matches.

Justice Chouta, Justice R Balasubramanian, former Judge of the Madras High Court, and BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale are members of the commission, which will also go into the allegations against three players of the Rajasthan Royals team and its franchise, as well as the Chennai Super Kings, of which Meiyappan was the Team Principal.

Chouta said he would be able to comment on his area of probe once he receives a written communication from the Board.

"I have not received written communication as yet. Hence I am not in a position to speak about it. I don't know the reference to a particular area. Only after seeing the written communication, I will be knowing about my area of probe," he said.

Chouta said the commission will not ask the beleaguered BCCI president Srinivasan to step down from his post.

"We will not ask Srinivasan to step down. If he wants, he can step down but it is not in our purview to ask him to quit," he said.

PTI