IPL: Raj Kundra suspended till pending inquiry

In a big blow to the Rajasthan Royals, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suspended the franchise's co-owner Raj Kundra pending inquiry into the IPL scandal. The decision was taken in the BCCI's emergent working committee meeting on Monday.

More such decisions are likely to come out of the meeting.

This came after the Delhi Police said that Kundra has admitted to betting on the Rajasthan Royals matches during the IPL. This puts the future of the Rajasthan Royals under the radar.

Also read: IPL betting: I have not done anything wrong, says Kundra

Sources say the BCCI's legal team will bring members up to date about the possible termination scenarios for both Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.

As per clause 11.3 (C) of the franchise agreement, a team can be terminated in the event of any of the owners bringing the game into disrepute.

Kundra and his wife Shilpa Shetty have 11.7 percent stakes in Rajasthan Royals through Kuki Investment. Suresh Chellaram and Family (Tresco International Limited) have the bulk of the shares with 44.2 percent while Manoj Badale (Emerging Media) has 32.4 percent stakes. Lachlan Murdoch (Blue Water Estate Limited) has 11.7 percent stakes.

Raj Kundra's suspension puts a question mark on the Rajasthan Royals' future. A decision is expected in the ongoing BCCI meet.

According to a senior official of the BCCI, the working committee in all likelihood might decide to hand over the Raj Kundra's alleged betting case to the two-man probe panel that is already handling the Gurunath Meiyappan betting case.

BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) chief Ravi Sawani's probe report into the spot-fixing scandal is also expected to be tabled. The Board will consider the possibility of handing out bans at this stage to the three arrested players - S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.

All the key decisions that were taken earlier by the BCCI are expected to be ratified. Meanwhile, Mumbai Cricket Association President Ravi Sawant has been appointed as the new BCCI Treasurer at the board's emergent working committee meeting that was taking place on Monday.

The post of the Treasurer was vacant after Ajay Shirke had resigned with the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal hit the board's credibility.