Supreme Court Probe Committee on IPL 2013 Spot-fixing Allegations

The Supreme Court constituted a Probe Committee headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal to investigate betting and spot-fixing allegations in IPL, 2013. The Committee confirmed allegations against Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan, requiring further investigation on spot-fixing, and mentioned allegations against 13 individuals, including Mr. N. Srinivasan. The Court directed the Justice Mudgal Committee to investigate these allegations to maintain confidentiality and prevent reputational damage. The BCCI was instructed to bear all expenses related to the investigation, and interim BCCI Presidents were appointed until further hearings in September 2014.

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Issues:
Constitution of probe panel by BCCI, Composition of Probe Committee, Investigation into allegations against 13 persons including Mr. N. Srinivasan, Proper composition of the Probe Committee, Cooperation with investigation, Expenses and fees for the investigation team, Continuation of BCCI powers.

Constitution of Probe Panel by BCCI:
The Cricket Association of Bihar challenged the constitution of a panel by the BCCI to investigate betting and spot-fixing allegations in IPL, 2013. The High Court held that the panel was not in accordance with IPL Operational Rules but declined to form a new panel. The Supreme Court then constituted a Probe Committee headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal to inquire into the allegations against Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan and others related to betting and spot-fixing.

Composition of Probe Committee:
The Justice Mudgal Committee submitted two reports, one confirming allegations against Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan but requiring further investigation on spot-fixing. The second report mentioned allegations against 13 individuals, including Mr. N. Srinivasan, requiring verification and investigation. The Supreme Court decided that the Justice Mudgal Committee should investigate these allegations to maintain confidentiality and prevent reputational damage.

Investigation into Allegations against 13 Persons:
The Supreme Court directed the Justice Mudgal Committee to investigate the allegations against 13 individuals, including Mr. N. Srinivasan, to ensure a fair and confidential process. The Committee was to be assisted by specific individuals, with Shri B.B. Mishra leading the investigation team. The Committee was granted necessary powers for investigation, and all parties were instructed to cooperate fully.

Proper Composition of the Probe Committee:
After considering objections, the Supreme Court finalized the composition of the investigation team, ensuring experienced personnel were involved. Shri B.B. Mishra was appointed to head the team, with officers from Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi Police, along with a respected former cricketer, assisting in the investigation process.

Cooperation with Investigation:
All parties, including the BCCI, Mr. N. Srinivasan, and cricket players, were mandated to cooperate fully with the investigation. The Justice Mudgal Committee was empowered to seek necessary orders from the Court to overcome any difficulties during the investigation process.

Expenses and Fees for the Investigation Team:
The BCCI was directed to bear all expenses related to the investigation, including travel, lodging, and fees for the Committee members and the investigation team. The Central and State Governments would continue to pay salaries to the team members, which the BCCI would reimburse accordingly.

Continuation of BCCI Powers:
The Supreme Court decided that Mr. Sunil Gavaskar and Mr. Shivlal Yadav would continue to exercise the powers of the BCCI President until further hearing in September 2014. The matters were scheduled for further discussion before the appropriate Bench at that time.

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