'If Srinivasan had participated, BCCI would face contempt of court'

In the wake of adjourned meeting of the BCCI's working committee, Aditya Verma, the petitioner in the IPL spot-fixing case, claimed that the entire committee would have drawn contempt of court if former president N Srinivasan had participated in the working committee's meeting in Kolkata on Friday.

"Jagmohan Dalmiya (president) adjourned it because if Srinivasan had participated in the meeting, entire BCCI's working committee would have faced contempt of court along with Srinivasan," said Verma, adding that the Supreme Court-constituted Justice Lodha committee verdict on the fixing case is still awaited.

The working committee meeting was being held to discuss the way forward for Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, the two IPL franchises that have been given a two-year suspension by the Lodha Committee, because their team owners - Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra-were involved in betting during the 2013 edition of the IPL.

Pointing to the Supreme Court's order dated 22 January and 21 February, which prohibits the former BCCI president from presiding or participating in the board's working committee meeting, Verma stressed that rules should not be flouted.

Earlier, Srinivasan had attracted severe objection from Supreme Court for presiding over the BCCI working committee meeting on 8 February.

Verma also ruled out Srinivasan's chances of participating in the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) if he doesn't get a clean chit from the apex court.