IPL spot-fixing case: CSK and Rajasthan Royals face suspension for two years

New Delhi: Observing that the purity of the game of cricket cannot be sullied by “team officials” betting on IPL matches, the Justice R.M. Lodha panel on Tuesday banned two-time champions Chennai Super Kings, owned by former BCCI president N. Srinivasan’s India Cements, and Jaipur-based Rajasthan Royals from the tournament for a period of two years.

Reading out excerpts from the verdict, Justice Lodha made it clear that criminal cases already registered against Mr Srinivasan’s son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, and Raj Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, will be taken to their logical end by the police, in accordance with the law. With regard to Mr Meiyappan and Mr Kundra, the panel imposed a five-year suspension from IPL matches and a life ban on all forms of cricket-related activities associated with the BCCI.

Both being found guilty of illegal betting, the panel held the conduct of Mr Meiyappan and Mr Kundra had affected the image of the BCCI, the IPL, and also the game, and brought each one of them into disrepute. The three-member panel said Mr Meiyappan lost Rs 60 lakh, which showed his heavy betting habits. It said that at the age of 40, he cannot say that he did not know the impact of his doings and the injury it caused to cricket.