The BCCI will conduct a fresh probe into the revelations made by IPL spot-fixing scandal investigator BB Misra. Misra had revealed to the Indian Express that a top Indian cricketer, who is a 2011 World Cup winner, was under suspicion for contacts with a bookie in 2008-09.
“We have read the reports, looked into them and will take the necessary steps. As the board doesn’t have any record or evidence about the particular findings, as it was not given to the board and which only the court has access to, we will ask the court to provide them. Also, we have informed the anti-corruption unit chief, and he will take further steps after studying the events,” Rai told reporters on Monday.
Misra said that he couldn’t probe the suspected event because it was not part of his charter, which was about corruption allegations against of BCCI office-bearers, specifically former BCCI chief N Srinivasan, his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra and ex-IPL COO Sundar Raman. Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan, the Chennai Super Kings team official, were later handed life bans for betting.
Misra also said that he uncovered a nexus between agents who run player management companies and senior players who have huge stakes in the same.
The former IPS officer highlighted what he said were “contradictions” in statements made by Kundra to the Justice Mukul Mudgal probe committee and to him.
“We don’t want to single out any state or unit. But with the possibility of corruption in mind, we have decided to beef up our overall system. Earlier, the anti-corruption unit worked with one-two persons, but soon we will make our presence felt in every zone. We will appoint experienced people who have worked closely in the zones and with other intelligence agencies, people who know how things work and know how to prevent it,” Rai said that the board is trying to step up measures to prevent corruption.
On the allegations that the lesser known players are bribing their way into the newly formed Ranji teams, Vinod Rai said, “We don’t wish to say something and have the state associations say that we interpreted it wrong. The state associations are free to interpret the constitution the way they want to and we will file compliance the way they have interpreted it. We will put out a model since some states have asked for it.”
Rai said he would recommend that all state bodies appoint an ombudsman and ethics officer, “Neither do we have the wherewithal nor do we have the mandate to look into every such instance. So I would advise every unit to have an ombudsman and ethics officer, who can address these issues.”
Misra joined the IPL probe in 2014 on the Supreme Court’s orders. During his four-month probe till October 31, 2014, he questioned over 100 people, including 30 players and top officials. His findings were part of Justice Mudgal’s final report that was submitted to the Supreme Court. Misra is now with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
(with inputs from indianexpress.com)
