IPL Fixing Verdict: Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals suspended

Two teams from cricket's Indian Premier League were on Tuesday suspended for two years by a Supreme Court-appointed panel after team officials were found guilty of illegally betting on matches.

The panel, set up in January by the Supreme Court to determine the quantum of punishment in the case, also recommended life bans on Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals' Raj Kundra from all cricket-related activities.

Meiyappan, son-in-law of International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Narayanswamy Srinivasan, and Kundra, a former Rajasthan co-owner, had been found guilty of illegal betting.

"As the face of the team, he (Meiyappan) ought not to have indulged in betting practices," retired chief justice R.M. Lodha, who headed the panel, read out from the verdict which also criticised the franchises for inaction that brought disrepute to the game.

"By regularly placing bets in IPL matches... he acted in gross violation of the anti-corruption code.

"He is suspended for life from being involved in any type of cricket matches."

The Supreme Court had earlier said the panel's verdict will be binding on the Indian cricket board (BCCI).

India's one-day international captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads the Chennai team while Australian Steve Smith captains Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Controversy swirled around the 2013 editions of the league with former India paceman S. Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan cricketers being arrested on suspicion of taking money to concede a fixed number of runs.

Sreesanth, who denied any wrongdoing, was subsequently banned for life by the Indian board.

"This is not unusual when a part-owner and team official indulged in corrupt practices," the panel said referring to Kundra.

"The unsavoury individuals and bad elements become bold enough to involve vulnerable elements, including players, to all sorts of corruptions." 

Chennai Super Kings, led by India's one-day international captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Rajasthan Royals, skippered by star Australian batsman Steve Smith, were the two franchises punished by the Rajendra Mal Lodha panel in a massive blow to the eight-team tournament.

Asked about the financial losses of players from the two teams, Lodha said: "We did not consider financial losses to players and teams. That is not significant. The integrity of the game is what matters."

Meiyappan, who was detained for two weeks by Mumbai Police in 2013 over allegations of spot-fixing, was cleared by a BCCI-appointed panel but a petition from the Cricket Association of Bihar led to the Bombay High Court declaring that panel "illegal and unconstitutional."

The Cricket Association of Bihar then took the issue to the Supreme Court, which ordered an investigation into the conduct of Srinivasan and 12 others.

The fixing controversy erupted during the 2013 IPL competition when a small group of players, including former test bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth, were arrested for allegedly deliberately conceding a set number of runs in exchange for money from illegal gamblers.

 

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