Question : Irregularities in BCCI-IPL

(a) Whether it is true that corruption is prevailing in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian Premier League (IPL) has come to the notice of the Government and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry regarding irregularities/corruption in BCCI and IPL and if so, the findings thereof along with the follow up action taken thereon so far;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to stop the corruption in BCCI and IPL;

(d) whether the Government proposes to bring BCCI under the Government control and ambit of RTI Act; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the efforts being made by the Government to bring BCCI under the ambit of RTI Act?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) to (c) Madam, during the past, irregularities/corruption in the functioning of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were reported in sections of print and electronic media. Various agencies of the Government such as the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, etc. have conducted inquiries into the allegations of irregularities in the BCCI.

Central Board of Direct Taxes, Department of Revenue has informed that disclosure of information regarding specific taxpayer is prohibited except as provided under section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. However, whenever any instance of violation of direct tax laws is noticed by the Income Tax Department, appropriate action including searches, surveys, assessment of income, levy of tax, imposition of penalty and launching of prosecution is taken as per law, depending upon facts and circumstances of each case.

BCCI has informed that they advocated zero tolerance to corruption of any kind in the game of cricket and they have a robust Anti Corruption Code and all players, match officials, administrators and team support staff including the team owners are covered under the same. Action under the Anti Corruption Code has been initiated against the players and team owners of the IPL betting scam of 2013. The Justice Lodha Commission too has meted out punishment to the teams and team owners based on the BCCI Anti Corruption Code.

(d)&(e) Madam, the matter regarding BCCI being a Public Authority in terms of section 2(h) of the RTI Act was raised before the Central Information Commission (CIC) which in turn sought the views of this Ministry. This Ministry had made written submissions to CIC on 16.12.2011 and 9.1.2012 pleading to bring BCCI under the RTI Act. CIC issued Notice for hearing the matter on 25.7.2013. Against this notice BCCI filed WP No.20229/2013 in the Madras High Court. The CIC and Ms. Madhu Agrawal have been cited as respondents in this case. Hon’ble Madras High Court vide its order dated 24.7.2013, in aforesaid Writ Petition, had ordered interim stay of all other proceedings.

Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, vide order dated 22-01-2015, in the matter of BCCI Vs Cricket Association of Bihar & Others has, inter-alia, observed that the functions of the Board are clearly public functions, which, till such time the State intervenes to take over the same, remain in the nature of public functions, no matter discharged by a society registered under the Registration of Societies Act.

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