Feb 27, 2019
NEW DELHI: Cricketer S Sreesanth claimed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday
that BCCI's decision imposing life ban on him was "completely unfair."
Sreesanth alleged that Delhi Police "continuously tortured" him in custody
to extract confession of his involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal.
He was arrested and later discharged by a trial court in New Delhi in July 2015
in the case.
He is challenging the decision of a division bench of the Kerala High Court
which had restored the life ban, in the Supreme Court.
His counsel told a bench of justices Ashok Bhushan and KM Joseph there was
"no clear proof" and evidence of match fixing and Sreesanth has suffered a lot
in the past five-six years.
"In the context of facts and manner in which these things have happened, this
court should consider that it (life ban on Sreesanth by BCCI) is unfair. He
has suffered for last five-six years. People want him to play cricket. He was
extremely loyal to BCCI," senior advocate Salman Khurshid, appearing for Sreesanth,
told the bench.
"The team (Rajasthan Royals) and its owners were banned for two years only.
It is completely unfair that this (life ban) has happened with him (Sreesanth),"
Khurshid said.
Sreesanth told the top court that he has offers to play English county matches.
Delhi Police had arrested Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan and others
on charges of spot-fixing.
