IPL spot-fixing: Chandila's case lying in limbo

The recent turn of events in the BCCI, following the Supreme Court's intervention, has inadvertently granted some respite to Ajit Chandila, the lynchpin of the spot-fixing scandal in the IPL.

The recent turn of events in the BCCI, following the Supreme Court's intervention, has inadvertently granted some respite to Ajit Chandila, the lynchpin of the spot-fixing scandal in the IPL.

With president N Srinivasan asked to step aside by the Supreme Court, Chandila's fate hangs in balance as BCCI grapples with the situation. The off-spinner has been suspended from playing but the BCCI is yet to decide on the final punishment for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing.

Chandila was the last one to depose, on March 5, before the BCCI disciplinary committee comprising Srinivasan, Rajeev Shukla and Shivlal Yadav. The tainted player had asked the committee to allow him another seven days to furnish his reply. Defending the charges slapped against him, Chandila has e-mailed his reply.

In September last year, the BCCI imposed a life ban on Sreesanth and Chavan, while Trivedi was handed a one-year ban and Amit Singh was banned for five years. "Yes, we have got the reply from Chandila. His hearing is over. But since Srinivasan has stepped aside from the post of the BCCI president as well as one of the members of the disciplinary committee, I have to check the legal angle whether now this committee which is reduced to two members can take a call on his written reply," said Shivlal Yadav, BCCI's interim president as well and disciplinary committee member.