Justice Mudgal not happy with players named in his report slipping without scrutiny

The retired high court justice and the chief of the Mudgal Committee Mukul Mudgal feels that the Supreme Court will further not consider scrutinizing the sealed envelope which was submitted in February 2014 containing the names of the people ‘allegedly’ involved or were silent spectator in the disgraceful IPL match fixing which caused the ouster of two BCCI presidents so far.

The envelope was part of the report that Mudgal had put before the court following the match-fixing and betting scandal during IPL 2013. A day ago, the SC had issued a formal order removing BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke from their respective positions for not complying with the Lodha Committee reforms.

“I think the Supreme Court decided not to reveal the names for reasons known to them,” Mudgal told Mumbai Mirror. “They were allegations. Not necessarily all 13 names are involved. After the Supreme Court has seen the matter, I don’t think it can go on any further. That chapter is closed.”

The only names that did officially emerge from the envelope was that of former BCCI president Srinivasan and IPL COO Raman, Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra and CSK Team Principal Gurunath Meiyappan. In August 2015, the Supreme Court had given the Lodha Committee the power to examine the names in the envelope. Raman was later cleared of all allegations.

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“If the Committee wants to look into it without affecting the image and reputation of some persons, it can consider it. As far as image of people is concerned, that should not be affected unnecessarily,” the bench said at the time.

However, the rest of the names in the envelope seem to have been forgotten as the battle between the Lodha Committee and BCCI officials opposed to some of the recommendations raged on before culminating in yesterday’s order.

“From July (2016) to January (2017) this has gone on, and tomorrow is the last working day as far as Chief Justice Thakur is concerned, so he had to give a verdict before he retired,” Justice Mudgal said.

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