IPL spot-fixing case: Trio will continue to face civil consequences

The Board said its disciplinary decision remained unaltered. “Any disciplinary proceeding or decision taken by the BCCI is independent to any criminal proceeding and has no bearing. The decisions of the BCCI, based on its independent disciplinary action, shall remain unaltered,” BCCI said in a statement issued on Saturday hours after the court verdict.

All three had to spend time in jail during the course of investigation. Of the three, Sreesanth and Chavan are currently serving life bans imposed by the BCCI after the scandal shook the high-profile league, while Chandila’s hearing is still on.

Suhrith Parthasarthy, a famous lawyer, said that the trial court’s decision would have little impact on the ‘civil consequences’ faced by the cricketers. “They were charged under a law that was meant to deal with organised crime in Maharashtra and the charges have been cleared because the prosecution was unable to produce before the court sufficient evidence to prove their charges,” Parthasarthy told ESPNcricinfo.

“In criminal law, the kind of evidence the prosecution needs to bring to court is a kind of evidence that shows beyond reasonable doubt that these individuals had committed the offences under the MCOCA. Obviously the Delhi Police was unable to do it in this case and therefore the court has cleared them of all these charges.”

“This does not mean that the other civil consequences that Sreesanth and the other cricketers would face will end. Those would continue to apply,” he added.

Mr Parthasarthy expects Sreesanth and the others would approach the BCCI and appeal for overturning the life ban citing criminal court’s clean chit.