SC panel bars CSK, RR for two years, finds Meiyappan, Kundra guilty of IPL betting

Bars Gurunath and Kundra for life from BCCI, also bars India Cements for two years from cricket

A Supreme Court panel on Tuesday found Gurunath Meiyappan guilty of betting in the Indian Premier League cricket tournament and suspended him for life from the cricketing world.

Effectively, the son-in-law of then BCCI president N Srinivasan and team principal of the Chennai Super Kings is no longer eligible to participate in any cricketing activity. 

It said Meiyappan had flouted basic rules of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. 

Rajasthan Royals co-founder Raj Kundra, who is married to Bollywood superstar Shilpa Shetty, was found of bringing disrepute to the game, to the BCCI and to the IPL, the panel found. 

 
Kundra was also declared ineligible from participating in cricket for 5 years. He was suspended for life from being involved with the BCCI in any form of the game. 

The panel, led by former Chief Justice of India R M Lodha, also banned India Cements Ltd, which is the promoter of the Chennai Super Kings, for two years from the cricket world. 

Justice Lodha said that Meiyappan's misconduct has been proven, and added that he had engaged in heavy and multiple acts of betting that had damaged the reputation of the game of cricket, the BCCI and the IPL.

• Rajasthan Royals  suspended for 2 years from IPL
• CSK suspended from IPL for 2 years
• Raj Kundra placed bets through a known punter, has been found guilty of misconduct
• Sanctions imposed on Raj Kundra, co owner of Rajasthan Royals for betting
• Gurunath Meiyappan suspended for life from being involved in activities related to any type of cricket matches
• Meiyappan suffered Rs 60 lakh loss in bets
• Gurunath Meiyappan was involved in betting, it was his bad luck that he made no profits
• He violated basic rules of the BCCI
• The fact that Meiyappan was integral part of CSK,he ought not to have indulged in corrupt practices
• Any person who has true passion for the game will never be involved in betting

Meanwhile, on Twitter, cricket fans met the news with some relief, as well as resignation. Some also questioned why N Srinivasan had been effectively let off the hook, despite being the Managing Director of India Cements and the president of the BCCI at the time. 

#IPLVerdict Very importantly, the SC has sent a strong message to BCCI! They are NOT above the law! @ibnlive

— Shakthi (@v_shakthi) July 14, 2015

Hats off Lodha committee. CSK and RR suspended for 2 years. Real fans don't need the fake games! #IPLVerdict

— IshanYadav (@BeingIshanCric) July 14, 2015

#IPLverdict why no action against Srinivasan n why not scrap IPL in current form n change BCCI functionaries to cricketers only

— Sandeep Gandotra (@sandeepgandotra) July 14, 2015

The funny guys, of course, were not to be left behind on a day like this. 

Now that CSK is suspended does that mean Dhoni is up for auction again? @TheVijayMallya Mauka Mauka #IPLVerdict

— ?? ?? ???????? (@die_hard_msdian) July 14, 2015

Justice Lodha also recommended ban for the batsmen who couldn't score more than 15 runs in Dinda's over. #IPLVerdict

— Rofl Dgandhi (@RoflGandhi_) July 14, 2015

A day before the ruling came, however, from faraway London, where the IPL's founder is currently living, cam this tweet. 

I hope for cricket sake both are cancelled. ???? https://t.co/JTqqccfitC

— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) July 12, 2015