Controversial BCCI president N Srinivasan was today restrained from assuming the top post, if re-elected, until further orders by the Supreme Court which asked why he was at the helm when his son-in-law was chargesheeted in the IPL spot-fixing case.
In the high voltage proceedings, the court, which allowed the Board to hold its proposed Annual General Meeting scheduled for Sunday in Chennai, said Srinivasan will have to wait to take charge if elected again as president of the cash-rich body until it decides the matter.
"In the meanwhile, the proposed AGM of BCCI will be held on September 29 and the election in the AGM can also be held. In case Srinivasan is elected as President, he will not take charge until further orders," a bench comprising Justices A K Patnaik and J S Kehar said.
The moment BCCI's counsel said that Srinivasan was still in "charge" of board's affairs, Justice Patnaik thumped the bench and said as to how he could be at the helm "when his son-in-law has been charge sheeted".
"Why he is in charge (as the BCCI President) if his son-in-law has been charge sheeted? Why you (Srinivasan) are so keen to be elected?.
"When the Supreme Court of India is hearing the matter then why you are so keen. What about your son-in-law? Hold the election but don't take charge till we decide it," Justice Patnaik said questioning the holding of elections when the apex court was seized of the matter.
"We do not know anyone. We only know cricket. We only know BCCI," the bench observed and posted the matter for hearing on Monday.
Before the bench made the stinging remarks, senior advocte Harish Salve, appearing for Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), pressed for stay of the AGM and also entered into spat with BCCI's counsel C A Sundaram when he made an attempt to interrupt him (Salve) by saying there is no "allegation or whisper" against Srinivasan or Chennai Super King (CSK) owned by India Cements.
Salve, who raised his pitch to halt Sundaram, referred to to the charge sheet filed by Mumbai police in the IPL spot fixing case against various accused including Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of Srinivasan and principal of CSK, and said the situation was "unprecedented" warranting judicial interference.
