NEW DELHI (AP) Narainswamy Srinivasan's fight against attempts to end his control over Indian cricket suffered a setback on Friday as the country's Supreme Court restrained him from assuming charge until the matter is in court.
"In case Srinivasan is elected as president (of the Board of Control for Cricket in India), he will not take charge until further orders," the court said while hearing a petition from the regional Cricket Association of Bihar, which wanted Srinivasan barred from seeking re-election on Sunday.
The CAB contends that Srinivasan has been trying to protect his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who is accused of being part of a spot-fixing scandal during this year's Indian Premier League.
The court order could force a re-think on BCCI officials backing Srinivasan since an extension to his tenure could hamper regular functioning of the board as he will be the signing authority but will not be able to take charge immediately.
Meiyappan, the team principal of Chennai Super Kings, who are owned by India Cements company of which Srinivasan is the managing director, has been charged by Indian police on several counts including cheating and being in touch with illegal bookmakers.