The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking ban on the remaining Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in view of the spot-fixing scandal.
The PIL sought for the discontinuation of all remaining matches until the probe into the spot-fixing scandal comes to an end. The petitioner also asked for the setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) to look into scandal. IPL franchises, BCCI and the Centre are made party in the petition.
The apex court slammed the BCCI for its apathetic attitude towards the irregularities around the IPL even as it refused to ban the remaining matches. It also directed BCCI's one-man commission, which was appointed to look into the issues concerning IPL, to submit its report within two weeks.
The SC's ruling came after Sudarsh Awasthi of Lucknow filed a PIL seeking the ban of the remaining IPL matches after three Rajasthan Royals players - S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila - were arrested on Thursday by the Delhi Police in connection with spot-fixing in the ongoing IPL matches.
"There are many irregularities in the IPL beginning from auction of players. Black money and money from anti-social elements are involved in the IPL, which needs to be probed," PTI quoted the petition filed by Lucknow resident Sudarsh Awasthi.
The three Rajasthan Royals players were placed in police custody along with 11 other bookies for five days. They have been charged under section 240 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The BCCI has also suspended them.
