‘No reason to step aside’, N Srinivasan seeks SC nod to continue as BCCI President

New Delhi: Beleaguered BCCI President N Srinivasan on Tuesday knocked the doors of the Supreme court for reconsidering its interim order keeping him away from the affairs of the Board and sought its permission to resume his office, the tenure of which is till September this year.

Srinivasan, who narrated the sequences of events that led the apex court to ask him to discontinue functioning as BCCI president, contended that "unfair and unsubstantiated allegations" were made against him by the senior counsel appearing for Bihar Cricket Association.

The Court will on Wednesday hear the matter when the plea of BCCI seeking transcripts of audio tapes containing statements of Srinivasan and Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, recorded by the Mudgal Committee which probed allegations of IPL betting and spot fixing, will be taken up.

In an affidavit, he claimed that he never interfered with disciplinary proceedings or criminal investigations against his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who is one of the accused in IPL spot fixing.

Responding to the allegations levelled by the BCA and adverse remarks made by the apex court, Srinivasan, who is the Chairman of the India Cements, the owner of Chennai Super Kings, said he never made any offer to step aside as the Board President and a proposal in this regard was given by the BCCI on March 27.

Further, he countered the charge of suspended IPS officer G Sampath Kumar, who initially probed the betting and spot fixing, of influencing the investigation.

He also said the report of the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committeeconcluded that his statement that Meiyappan was a "mere cricket enthusiast" was incorrect and he (Meiyappan) was the "public face" of CSK.

"In these circumstances, I would respectfully submit that there is absolutely no reason why I should not be permitted to resume my office as elected President of BCCI unless and until this court conclusively finds material suggesting that I had interfered with investigations by CB-CID and/or compromised the tenure of Sampath Kumar in service.

"I have never interfered with any part of the disciplinary proceedings or the criminal investigation into my son-in-law and I unconditionally undertake that I will continue to do so in the event this court directs any such proceedings," Srinivasan said in the affidavit.

While requesting the apex court to reconsider its March 28 order in so far as it relates to his position in BCCI, the India Cements Chairman said, "I wish to resume my elected office. My tenure ends with September 2014 and I should be allowed to complete my tenure."

"Hence, I wish to assume office as President BCCI as there is no reason at all why I should step aside pending any investigation into any crime being investigated by CB-CID or other agency," the affidavit said.

He also denied allegation of senior advocate Harish Salve that he was guilty of corruption and "cover up" and also expressed his ignorance that the sealed envelope submitted by the Mudgal Committee contains any audio tapes having conversation between two accused of betting -- Vindoo Dara Singh and Meiyappan.

On the apex court order that any person associated with India Cements should be kept out of the affairs of BCCI, Srinivasan said in the past also various office bearers of the

Board included people working in their company and offices for the affairs of the cricket.

He also said that persons like former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, expelled from BCCI and former Board President and some journalists who have always adopted a permanently hostile attitude against him are crying for his blood.

BCCI counsel CA Sundaram had earlier said that without the transcripts of the audio tapes it would be very difficult for him to respond in the matter. A bench comprising A K Patnaik and J S Khehar had said that it will see everything on the next date of hearing.

In its application filed earlier, BCCI had also sought the transcripts of statements by Sundar Raman, the Chief Operating Officer of IPL.

The apex court had also appointed veteran cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar to head the Board for IPL 7 during pendency of the case in the apex court.