CHENNAI: Distancing itself from Gurunath Meiyappan after his name cropped up in IPL spot-fixing probe, Chennai Super Kings owner India Cements on Friday said he is neither owner nor CEO or Team Principal of CSK and promised strict action against anyone found guilty.

BCCI chief N. Srinivasan is the MD of India Cements and Meiyappan is his son-in-law.

“Meiyappan is neither owner nor CEO or Team Principal of IPL Franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK),” India Cements executive president T.S. Raghupathy said in a statement.

“Gurunath is only one of the members (Honorary) of the Management Team of Chennai Super Kings”, he said.

The company said it would assure full co-operation with BCCI and law enforcement authorities on the ongoing probe into the IPL scandal.

The Chennai based company said it follows “zero tolerance policy” and would take strict action immediately against those found guilty.

Police had stated in Mumbai on May 23 that Vindoo, son of actor Dara Singh, had revealed during questioning he came to know Mr. Meiyappan, hailing from a well to do south Indian family which is into film production, five to six years ago at a party for cricketers and was in touch with him since then.

The actor also reportedly claimed he had made many calls to Meiyappan following which Meiyappan has been summoned by Mumbai Police. — PTI

NEW DELHI: Rattled by the spot-fixing scandal that has shaken Indian cricket, IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla and BCCI vice-President Arun Jaitley on Friday met Law Minister Kapil Sibal, demanding that a strong anti-fixing legislation be “enacted as soon as possible“.

“Today Arun Jaitley, who is a BCCI vice-President and the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee and me met Law Minister Mr Kapil Sibal and requested that the strongest possible law should be made to crack down on match-fixing,” Mr. Shukla told reporters after the meeting.

“We welcome the initiative. The strongest possible punishment should be given. We want a law to be enacted as quickly as possible because in the absence of a law, these people are taking advantage,” he said.

“We will soon meet the Sports Minister (Jitendra Singh) because he also wants a strong law. We will request him that a law should be made,” he added.

Indian cricket has been thrown into disarray because of the IPL spot-fixing scandal which led to the arrest of three players, including Test pacer S.Sreesanth, and several bookies with underworld connections.

The scandal has reached the doorstep of BCCI President N.Srinivasan with the Mumbai Police summoning his son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings owner Gurunath Meiyappan for questioning after his name cropped up during the interrogation of betting suspect and Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh.

Asked if Srinivasan should resign owning moral responsibility, Shukla said, “The (BCCI’s) Ravi Sawani Committee is already investigating. Let him submit a report. The Disciplinary Committee will take a final view on it.”

“Let the Mumbai Police submit its report on the matter,” he added. — PTI

WASHINGTON: Describing him as a "trailblazer" who personifies the best of America, 1the US President Barack Obama has said that Indian-American Srikanth Srinivasan will serve as a judge of America's second highest court "with distinction".

Chandigarh-born Srinivasan's nomination to the US court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was unanimously approved by the Senate on Thursday, with 97 voting in favor.

46-year-old Srinivasan has become the first South Asian to be appointed to the top American court.

"Sri is a trailblazer who personifies the best of America. Now he will serve with distinction on the federal bench," Obama said in a statement.

"Sri will in fact be the first South Asian American to serve as a circuit court judge in our history. Born in Chandigarh, India, and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, Sri spent nearly two decades as an extraordinary litigator before serving as Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States," Obama said on Thursday.

Srinivasan was first nominated by Obama on June 11, 2012. On January 2, 2013, his nomination was returned to the President, due to the sine die adjournment of the Senate. On January 3, 2013, Obama re-nominated him for the same office.

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy, hailed the appointment to what is considered as the top court of the country after the Supreme Court.

Senator Mark R Warner, co-chair of the bipartisan Senate India Caucus, said he is delighted with the unanimous confirmation. Warner had introduced Srinivasan in the Judiciary Committee earlier this year.

"Sri is exceptionally well qualified and possesses the credentials, experience, knowledge, and judgment that this eminent position requires, as well as strong support from a broad range of colleagues in the legal community," said Warner.

"The enthusiastic bipartisan support he has received reflects his effective work for both Democratic and Republican administrations and numerous well respected judges," he added.

"His approval also has great significance for the Indian-American community, which despite an incredibly rich talent pool in the legal arena, is underrepresented at the highest levels of our legal system. Sri Srinavasan is poised to change that as he continues his exceptional career," Warner said.

Indian-American Congressman Dr Ami Bera said he is thrilled at the unanimous confirmation of Srinivasan.

"I'm thrilled that the Senate confirmed Sri Srinivasan to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals today," said Bera. Bera had written a letter to the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in this regard on Wednesday.

"He will be an outstanding, fair-minded judge. This is a historic moment for all Indian Americans and Asian Americans, and it's a fitting way to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May," Bera said.

"Indian Americans have contributed to this country in many important ways, and we need to see more members of our community involved at all levels of government. I will continue to support aspiring, qualified Indian American leaders," he said.

"Sri Srinivasan made history today. As the first South Asian on the U S Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Sri will offer a unique perspective and added diversity that is long overdue in our justice system," said Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress.

"Srinivasan has a distinguished and proven record of commitment to public service, and I look forward to his contributions to the bench," Gabbard said.

Srinivasan was born in Chandigarh, and grew up in Lawrence, Kansas.

He received his BA with honours and distinction in 1989 from Stanford University and his JD (Juris Doctor) with distinction in 1995 from Stanford Law School, where he was elected to Order of the Coif and served as an editor of the Stanford Law Review.

He also holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, which he received along with his JD in 1995.

Srinivasan began his legal career by serving as a law clerk for Judge J Harvie Wilkinson on the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1995 to 1996.

He has received the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in furthering US national security in 2003 and the Office of the Secretary of Defence Award for Excellence in 2005. — PTI

SRINAGAR: Three Army personnel were killed on Friday in an encounter with militants in Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

An Army spokesman said the troops had launched an anti-insurgency operation in Buchoo village in Tral area of Pulwama, 40 kms from here, following a tip off about presence of militants in the area.

"As the troops were laying the cordon around the village, the militants hiding in the nearby forest opened firing, resulting in death of the three jawans," the spokesman said.

He said additional security forces have been rushed to the area and a manhunt has been launched to track down the militants.

Further details of the operation were awaited. There were unconfirmed reports that the militants fled from the scene along with the service rifles of the slain jawans.

Meanwhile, a fresh exchange of firing took place between the security forces and militants in the forest area, the spokesman said.

He said one jawan was injured in the fresh fire fight between the two sides while one militant was believed to have been killed.

"One militant is believed to be killed. However, a confirmation can only be made after the body is recovered," he added. — PTI