Justice Mudgal to probe IPL spot-fixing, betting allegations

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday appointed Justice Mukul Mudgal to probe the spot-fixing and betting allegations against some cricketers who played the Indian Premier League 2013 and inaction by Indian cricket board president N. Srinivasan.

The apex court bench of Justice A.K. Patnaik and Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla said Justice Mudgal will be assisted by senior IPS officer V.B. Mishra.

Mishra is the Deputy Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and will head the investigating team with Justice Mudgal, the court said.

The team will have three police officers, one each from police forces from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

A past cricketer of repute will also be inducted in the probe team to assist Justice Mudgal.

Except for arresting, the investigating team will have all the powers to call and examine the people and record their statements, the court said, adding the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N. Srinivasan will extend full cooperation to the team.

The apex court asked the government to issue necessary notification for setting up the probe team and making available Mishra's services.

The court directed the matter be listed in the first week of September, said Justice Mudgal. The report will be submitted in a sealed cover to the court and none of the members of probe panel will disclose its contents to anyone or speak to media, he said.

On April 29, Justice Mudgal conveyed his consent to undertake the probe into the allegations that surfaced in the course of an earlier inquiry conducted by him on the directions of the court.

Justice Mudgal was asked to undertake investigation after the apex court shouldered three-member probe panel -- Kolkata High Court former chief justice J.N. Patel, former all-rounder Ravi Shastri and former CBI director R.K. Raghavan suggested by the BCCI.

The court decided to appoint Justice Mudgal by way of its judicial pronouncement following resistance by the BCCI in handing over to him the investigation into the allegations.