Justice Mukul Mudgal confident that the verdict will help the IPL

CSK has been suspended

Justice Mukul Mudgal has made it clear that the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals have suffered because of the wrongdoings from the part of the team’s owners. Both these franchisees were suspended earlier in the day by the Lodha committee on the basis of the report that was submitted by him.

Mudgal in his report had stated that Gurunath Meiyappan (former team official of CSK) and Raj Kundra (former owner of RR) had indulged in betting and as a result India Cements and Jaipur IPL Ltd were suspended as owners.

"I haven't seen the whole report. But I'm sorry, if the franchise is banned, how can the team escape?," he told Times Now. "Remember Juventus and some Italian team, which for the wrongdoing of one of the players or one of the officials was relegated to the third division in Italy. So this has to happen. It's a consequence of some wrong doing and it also sends a message all across, right to the top, don't indulge in any wrongdoing."

"If you read the Supreme Court's order, in the last line says, this will be subject to any remedy in accordance with law. So challenge is available, the question is, when a committee comprising a former Chief Justice and two former Supreme Court judges gives a report, it is highly unlikely that a court will interfere in that verdict. I can't rule it out. Theoretically it is possible," he further told the news channel when asked about the possibility of the verdict being challenged.

He was also asked if it could be a setback for the IPL to proceed with the tournament with just six teams for the next season. "It is for the greater good," he said. "Please remember however great it may be, however popular it may be, it's about the game of cricket. And therefore in the long run it will benefit the IPL. There is a current feeling that all matches in the IPL are fixed, which is totally wrong. I can only think that this step will restore people's confidence in the game of cricket and in the IPL. That is a very good thing."

He also confirmed that the Lodha committee is gathering information on whether an external agency should be monitoring the functioning of the BCCI.

"They are going into [the constitution of the BCCI] as far as I know. They are going into it very deeply and they are hearing a lot of people. Even journalists. I'm sure if you want to give your point of view, you can go and do it. They have already spoken to forty people, which Lodha said today and they intend to speak to many more. I think if you were to wait for Justice Lodha's recommendation. They are looking into all these aspects. Second part of the report is going to look into all this," he told the channel.