CSK challenges Lodha Committee order, moves Madras High Court over IPL suspension

Chennai: IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings on Thursday moved the Madras High Court challenging the order of Justice Lodha Committee suspending it from Indian Premier League over the 2013 betting scam involving its top official Gurunath Meiyappan. In its petition, city-based Indian Cements Ltd (ICL), owner of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), also sought a stay on the committee’s last month order. [caption id=“attachment_2401680” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Gurunath Meiyappan with CSK. AFP[/caption] It contended that the committee’s order was against fundamental principles of natural justice and a fair hearing. Star-studded Mahendra Dhoni-led CSK and Rajasthan Royals were on 14 July suspended for two years from the League in a clean-up of cricket following the 2013 betting scam involving their top officials Meiyappan and Raj Kundra. Son-in-law of the then BCCI chief N Srinivasan, Meiyappan, a former Team Principal of CSK, and Kundra, co-owner of Jaipur IPL that runs Rajasthan Royals (RR), were suspended for life from any match conducted by BCCI. The punishments were handed down by a three-member panel headed by former CJI R M Lodha which was asked by the Supreme Court to decide the quantum of punishments after finding them guilty of betting. In its petition, India Cements alleged that imposing punishment on the franchise (CSK) without going into the charges or the alleged offence committed was against the principles of natural justice and a fair hearing. It further said the refusal of Justice Lodha committee to enter into the dispute of whether India Cements was guilty of violating clause 4.1.1.of IPL operation rules had led to ‘grave miscarriage of justice’. While referring to the Supreme Court order in January last, the petition said “Gurunath Meiyappan had been (found) guilty of betting but not spot-fixing, match-fixing or misuse of inside information…Meiyappaan never had shares in India Cements nor was he is in the management of the company.” PTI