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N Srinivasan cannot head BCCI till he comes out clean in a probe conducted against him and 12 others, including India-capped cricketers, whose names have been mentioned by Justice Mudgal Committee report in the IPL betting and spot fixing scandal, the Supreme Court today said.
The court said that it cannot "close its eyes" to the allegations made by its probe committee in the scandal and a probe must be conducted to clear the air as some prominent players were named in the report submitted in sealed envelop.
A bench of justices A K Patnaik and F M Ibrahim Kalifulla, however, expressed reservations over a SIT or CBI probe, saying that institutional autonomy of the Board has to be maintained and a committee constituted by the BCCI to look into the issue would be preferred.
"Having come to know the nature of allegations, we cannot close our eyes," the bench said adding "Till it(probe) is done, Srinivasan cannot come in BCCI."
"Allegations are against 13 people for which verification and inquiry is needed. Srinivasan names comes at the last. Very important cricketers name are there but we do not want to name them at this stage," it said.
It said it is "keen" to maintain institutional autonomy of the Board and does not want Police or CBI to interfere in it by ordering probe by them.
"We are not inclined for probe by CBI/SIT/Police against them but we will do so if we are compelled. Who will inquire into the allegations. Think hard and give answer on the next date," the bench said.
The bench said it cannot share the confidential report with probe agencies as the names of cricketers would become public and media would start mudslinging.
