2013 IPL spot fixing: SC says BCCI Ombudsman to reconsider quantum of punishment for S Sreesanth

Supreme Court Friday said BCCI Ombudsman Justice (retd) D K Jain will reconsider within three months quantum of punishment for former Indian cricketer S Sreesanth for his alleged involvement in 2013 IPL spot fixing scandal.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and K M Joseph said this while hearing an application filed by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

BCCI said that since its disciplinary committee, which had earlier dealt with Sreesanth's matter, is longer operational matter be referred to ombudsman appointed by apex court.

On March 15, top court had set aside BCCI disciplinary committee's order imposing a life ban on Sreesanth for his alleged involvement in matter.

court had n said that disciplinary committee may reconsider within three months quantum of punishment to be given to Sreesanth. 

top court had also said that its verdict will have effect on criminal proceedings pending against Sreesanth in Delhi High Court, where Delhi Police has challenged a trial court's order discharging all accused, including him in IPL spot-fixing case.

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A single-judge bench of Kerala High Court had lifted life ban imposed on 35-year-old cricketer by BCCI and set aside all proceedings against him initiated by board.

division bench of high court later restored ban on a petition filed by BCCI against single-judge bench's order.

BCCI had on February 28 told apex court that life ban imposed on Sreesanth was "fully sustainable in law" as he had "tried to influence" a match.

Sreesanth's lawyer had countered arguments and had told court that spot-fixing took place during IPL match and allegations levelled against cricketer were t substantiated by evidence.

Senior advocate Parag Tripathi, appearing for BCCI, had referred to recorded telephonic conversations in matter and told court it was clear that money was demanded and was "probably received" also.

He had said re were allegations that Rs 10 lakh was paid to Sreesanth for conceding 14 runs in his second over in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab at Mohali in May 2013.

Sreesanth had earlier claimed in top court that life ban was "completely unfair" and Delhi Police had "continuously tortured" him in custody to extract confession of his involvement in case.

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former cricketer, who was arrested and later discharged by a trial court here in July 2015, claimed he had to confess his involvement in alleged crime as police tortured him in custody and threatened to implicate his family in case.

Delhi Police had arrested Sreesanth, along with cricketers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, and ors on charges of spot-fixing.

As many as 36 accused in spot-fixing case, including Sreesanth, Chavan and Chandila, were discharged by trial court here in July 2015.

BCCI, however, had refused to alter its disciplinary decision of life ban on Sreesanth even after trial court's verdict