JUSTICE-MUDGAL-IPL-PROBE-COMMITTEE-REPORT-final-feb-8

JUSTICE MUDGAL IPL PROBE COMMITTEE 201414years of IPL, there was only one set of accreditation cardsand it was only subsequently that a distinction was beingmade between owners and other managementrepresentatives.It has been brought on record that the obligations /rightsand liabilities of the franchisee in IPL have been stipulatedin their respective Franchise Agreements. In terms of thesaid agreement, India Cements Limited is the franchiseeand owns the IPL team, Chennai Super Kings. Clause 1.1of the agreement defines “owner”, which mean any personwho is the ultimate controller of the franchisee. It isundisputed that Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan is not ashareholder of the franchisee i.e. India Cements Limitednor does he have any official position in the said Company.Under the circumstances, it is not possible to hold that hehad any control over the franchisee i.e. the India CementsLimited and therefore Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan cannot bedeemed to be “the owner” within the meaning of Clause11.3 of the franchisee agreement.However, the fact that Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan is not theowner of the franchisee will not make any substantialdifference under the Operational Rules as to the liability ofIPL team, Chennai Super Kings is concerned vis a vis Mr.Gurunath Meiyappan. In view of his accreditation as“Management Blue” under the IPL Accreditation Rules, it isabsolutely incontrovertible that Mr. Gurunath Meiyappanwas in fact a “Team official” of the IPL team, ChennaiSuper Kings within the meaning of the Operational Rules.