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Gurunath will be treated objectively - Srinivasan

N Srinivasan has said that the board would treat the case against his son-in-law and top Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan, "objectively and fairly"

ESPNcricinfo staff
25-May-2013
BCCI president N Srinivasan has said that the board will treat the case against his son-in-law and top Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan, who was arrested on charges of cheating, forgery and fraud, "objectively and fairly". Srinivasan also aggressively defended his decision not to resign his post, reiterating that he had no reason to quit as president because he had done nothing wrong.
Gurunath, who was produced in a Mumbai court on Saturday afternoon, was charged under 12 sections of three laws - relating to cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery, among other issues - and returned to police custody till May 29. The laws under which Gurunath was booked include Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, Sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act, and Sections 465, 466, 468, 471, 490, 420, 212, 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.*
Srinivasan was speaking from Mumbai, having left Madurai earlier in the day. "The law has to take its course. I am sure that he will defend himself adequately but that is not a reason for me to step down," Srinivasan told NDTV. "I am sorry. I cannot be bulldozed and I will not allow the press or the others to railroad me. I have done nothing wrong.
"Again as far as Mr Gurunath is concerned, whatever steps and action has to be taken, which has been taken in case of anybody else, the same would apply to him. There will be no discrimination or change.
"The fact is the probe will be carried out. Whatever steps have to be taken, will be taken objectively and fairly. That you need not be worried about. You can be sure that BCCI will act with the same alacrity. You need not be concerned about that."
When asked if he was aware of the alleged activities for which Gurunath had been charged, Srinivasan distanced himself from the issue, saying he barely followed the IPL. "I had no knowledge. Everybody knows I hardly visit, I hardly watch a game. In fact, I do not go to the CSK games, I hardly watch the T20. All I can say is that I had no knowledge of anything, which also people will understand because I never went to the games."
With reports emerging that some officials within the BCCI are moving to oust him, Srinivasan said he still had a lot of support within the board. "A lot of BCCI members have already sent me messages of support and how they are with me."
*15.00GMT, May 25: This article has been updated after the details of the charges against Gurunath Meiyappan arrived