Probe the entire IPL VI : Pawar

Anti-Srini factions come together

New Delhi (Agencies): Beleaguered President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) N Srinivasan on Wednesday found himself under intense pressure to quit after two heavyweights, IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla and Board vice-President Arun Jaitley, asked him to "stay away" till investigations against his son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, were completed in the IPL spot-fixing scandal.

Taking the issue a step further, former BCCI and ICC president, Sharad Pawar, demanded a Home Ministry inquiry into all the 75 matches of the scandal-hit IPL VI, saying not doing so will give an impression that the Board was not serious about dealing with corruption in the sport.

"If the BCCI gives in writing to the Home Minister seeking investigations into all the matches, the government can then investigate. They can interrogate anybody. They have legal sanction. If, however, the Board does not accept it and says its own anti-corruption will do the job, I feel it is not serious in dealing with the wrongdoings," Pawar said.

Asked if Srinivasan should step down from his post on moral grounds, pending investigation, Pawar said, "I don't want to comment on any individual," adding, "the anti-corruption unit of the BCCI has no authority.''

On a day of swift movements, Union Sports Minister Jitender Singh also asked Srinivasan to step down owing moral responsibility as his kin's name had figured in the scandal. This was more so because there is a conflict of interest in the ongoing inquiry. The BCCI President should tender his resignation pending the outcome of the inquiry. He reiterated the need for a stringent law to curb malpractices in all sports.

Meanwhile, a day after senior Board functionary Jyotiraditya Scindia raised the first voice of dissent, Shukla and Jaitley joined forces to create pressure on Srinivasan to stay away for the sake of Indian cricket's image.It also indicated a hardening of stand among some of the key members of the Board who are active politicians and could prompt others to make similar demands.

"He is an elected President. We are of the view that it would be good if he stays away from this procedure. We have made this suggestion and the decision on this matter is up to him. He has told us that he is not at fault and need not be punished," Shukla told reporters after meeting Jaitley. A three-member BCCI inquiry committee is probing Meiyappan and the spot-fixing allegations against three Rajasthan Royals players and its franchise as well as the Chennai Super Kings.

Justice T Jayaram Chouta and Justice R Balasubramanian, former Judges of the Madras High Court, and BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale are members of the Commission.