Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi on Tuesday welcomed the suspension of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Committee in the spot fixing and betting scandal as an honest decision and justice for Indian cricket.
"Great outcome for justice and integrity. No surprise, first honest decision on Indian cricket and it comes from outside the BCCI. Lodha committee report is just the first step. It is not an end but has to be taken as a starting point. This is just the start," Modi tweeted.
Both teams were suspended from the IPL for two years. Also former CSK team official Gurunath Meiyappan and Royals co-owner Raj Kundra, both of whom were earlier found guilty of betting, were suspended for life from any cricketing activity undertaken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The guilty duo was also suspended from any cricket related activity for a maximum period of five years.
"It was me for your information that exposed these fellows in the first place. All members who allowed this facade to continue and supported N Srinivasan (former BCCI president) for so long have to immediately tender there resignation."
Modi said both the teams have got away with lighter punishment and they should have been banned completely and not merely for two years.
"CSK and Rajasthan Royals have got away with lighter punishment - they should have been banned completely and not merely for two years," he said.
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Meiyappan is the son-in-law of former BCCI president and current International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman N. Srinivasan. Approached by media channels, Srinivasan said: "Don't want to speak on this issue, associated with CSK. It has nothing to do with me, why should I step down?"
Reacting to Srinivasan's comment, Modi tweeted saying, "First reaction of Srini is hilarious. CSK has nothing to do with me, does this clown really think we are stupid. The entire IPL governing council who met last week to decide on CSK hiving off Rs. 5 lakh and differed their decision, should be sacked. Shows all in fix.
"It's time for Indian cricket mafia to step out and allow the game to move forward. That would be a start. It has taken over two years to see justice done. As I have said in the past there have two be zero tolerance for corruption and cover up in cricket."
Kundra is an Indian-origin British businessman who is married to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty. Kundra, who owned 11.74 percent of shares in Rajasthan Royals before giving them away in March, was also handed the same sanctions as Meiyappan, which the committee said commence with immediate effect.
In his initial reaction to the committee verdict, Kundra tweeted: "Many inaccuracies. Have requested for a copy of the judgment. Obviously very shocked and disappointed."
The verdict, read out by former Chief Justice of India Justice R.M. Lodha in the presence of the other committee members, said the cricketers who were part of the two teams were free to join any other outfit.