Kerala HC lifts life ban on Sreesanth

Kochi, August 7

In a huge relief to cricketer S Sreesanth, the Kerala High Court today lifted the life ban imposed on him by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) following the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal.  In his order, Justice A Muhamed Mustaque set aside all proceedings against Sreesanth initiated by BCCI. “It is to be noted that there are no incriminating evidence to pinpoint Sreesanth’s involvement in spot-fixing deal,” the judge said.

Reacting to the verdict, 34-year-old pacer Sreesanth said he was “grateful to God.” He said he had started preparations for playing the game and his aim was to find a place in the Kerala team. The Kerala Cricket Association said it would take a “positive” decision on Sreesanth’s bid to play in state cricket.

The court said there was no material or evidence before BCCI’s disciplinary committee, which had found Sreesanth guilty, to conclude that he was guilty of the violation of its anti-corruption code.  

The court had earlier sought BCCI’s stand on the cricketer’s plea challenging the life ban imposed on him after a Sessions Court dropped charges against him. BCCI, while sticking to its decision, filed a counter-affidavit in the court, saying, “The decision of the Sessions Court to acquit the petitioner from the criminal charges has no impact whatsoever on the decision of its internal disciplinary committee to ban the petitioner.” The board had further argued that the question before the court was whether the petitioner was liable to incur penal consequences under relevant criminal statutes, while the question before its committee was whether the petitioner was guilty of match-fixing, corruption and gambling. “The standard of proof required under a penal statute was much higher than the proof required for a disciplinary inquiry,” it had said. — PTI

What was the issue?

Sreesanth, along with several others, was charged for spot-fixing during IPL’s sixth edition in 2013. BCCI’s disciplinary committee gave him a life ban. However, a Delhi Sessions Court exonerated him in the case, registered under the Maharashtra Control of organized crimes Act (MCOCA). The court had said there was not enough evidence for charges to be framed under MCOCA. As BCCI refused to lift the ban despite the court exonerating him, Sreesanth challenged the ban in the Kerala High Court.