Kolkata, July 28
The decks were today cleared for president-in-exile N Srinivasan's possible return to the BCCI top post after a two-judge probe panel found no evidence against his team Chennai Super Kings in the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal which rocked the sixth edition of the event.

Srinivasan could stage a comeback as BCCI chief as early as August 2 when the Board's Working Committee and the IPL Governing Council meet in New Delhi to take a final call on the issue.

The two-member panel, comprising former High Court judges T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian, submitted its report to the BCCI Working Committee which met here today amid intense speculation that the Tamil Nadu strongman could get back the job. The panel was mandated to enquire into the roles of Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was the Team Prinicipal of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and its co-owner Raj Kundra.

"There is no evidence of any wrongdoing found by the judges against Raj Kundra, India Cements and Rajasthan Royals. The report will now be forwarded to the IPL Governing Council which will take a final decision when it meets on August 2 in New Delhi," BCCI vice-president Niranjan Shah told reporters. Since the panel's order is binding on the BCCI which makes it clear that Srinivasan will return as Board chief.

Addressing a brief press conference, BCCI interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya said the inquiry report will be forwarded to the IPL Governing Council as per the operational rules of the Board. "The IPL Governing Council will meet on August 2 in New Delhi to take a decision on these issues," Dalmiya said.

Asked whether India Cements have been given a clean chit in the report, he said, "The final call will be taken in the IPL Governing Council meeting. It will be discussed in the proper forum which is the IPL Governing Council. The council will examine the report and accordingly will take a decision. The copy of the report will be made public in due course," Dalmiya said. There was, however, no clarity on Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan's role in the scandal and it is learnt that the inquiry commission has not given him a "clean chit".

Shah, when asked whether Meiyappan has been given a clean chit, did not give any answer. According to a source, Meiyappan has been cleared of spot-fixing in the inquiry report but could be involved in betting though there was no clear evidence. Dalmiya said that the order of the probe commission was received only this morning and speculation that it had come to the BCCI earlier was not correct. "The order was received by secretary Sanjay Patel here and it was placed in the afternoon before the Working Committee," he said.

Asked who will chair the August 2 meeting, Dalmiya said, "Let Srinivasan decide. Let Srinivasan take his decision." Dalmiya also said that BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit chief Ravi Sawani's report was discussed but since one player -- Ajit Chandila -- is in police custody, the probe could not be completed. — PTI

• The panel submitted its report to the BCCI Working Committee amid intense speculation that Srinivasan could get his job back
• The panel looked into the roles of Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was the Team Prinicipal of CSK and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra
• No evidence of any wrongdoing was reportedly found by the judges against Kundra, India Cements and RR
• There was, however, no clarity on Meiyappan's role in the scandal and it is learnt that the inquiry commission has not given him a "clean chit"