My integrity has been questioned today: Raj Kundra on his ban

In a statement issued by Kundra, he said : "Today is a very depressing and sad day for me as my integrity has been questioned and my support in this investigation seems to have backfired. I have always assisted and helped the Mudgal committee from day one till now."

" It’s  disheartening that despite there being no evidence what so ever against me, I was  still deemed to be guilty. I have not received till date a copy of their final report in  which sweeping conclusions were recorded against me. Even the fact that neither  the Delhi police nor Rajasthan police found any actionable case against me (for the obvious reasons that there was no evidence or material against me) has been used to make insinuations regarding my guilt for an act I never did," he said.

" While I have great respect for the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the judicial system, unfortunately in this  case I cannot but feel that I have been wronged. I would request that they have against me, so that I can at least have knowledge of the basis on which they have  destroyed my hard-earned reputation," the Rajashtan Royals co-owner said.

He said he has 'washed my hands' of cricket in India.

"I also find it very unfair that the full team, the other owners, the management team,  the players and the fans of Rajasthan Royals have been so harshly treated due to the alleged actions of one minority stakeholder of 11.7%," he said.

In a big blow to Indian Premier League (IPL), the major money spinner in Indian cricket, Justice Lodha panel on Tuesday banned for life CSK team official Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra from all forms of cricket in connection with the infamous IPL betting case.

Meyappan is the son-in-law of the controversial former BCCI chief N Srinivasan.

In what could take out the sheen more out of the glamourous and tumultuously popular IPL, the three-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge RM Lodha also suspended two-time premier league champions Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, winners of the maiden version of the cash-rich league.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is also the skipper of CSK.

Meanwhile, former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar said it will difficult to think about IPL without Indian team captain Dhoni.

"I hope the matter (fate of CSK and RR players) is sorted out quickly. Leave aside an IPL without MS Dhoni, it will be hard to see an Indian team without him when calls time on his career," Gavaskar told NDTV.

Speaking on  former BCCI chief N Srinivasan,  he said: "One can't doubt the commitment N. Srinivasan's commitment to cricket. I don't think we should go on a witch-hunt as the Mudgal panel had also stated that he did not interfere in the investigations."

BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya said the board is committed to honour and respect judicial decisions and it would give its observations after the entire report is read and a collective decision is taken.

In a statement, Dalmiya said: “BCCI is committed to honour and respect judicial decisions and it would give its observations after the entire report is read and a collective decision is taken.”

He, however, asserted that BCCI is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and cleansing the sport in order to restore the faith and confidence of millions of cricket loving people in the glorious game of cricket in general and IPL in particular.

Anurag Thakur, Secretary of the BCCI, said: “We respect the verdict and would undertake a collective decision in a transparent manner, in the right direction and in the larger interest of the game after the verdict is received and analysed.”

While delivering its historic verdict, the Supreme Court-appointed panel found Kundra and Meiyappan guilty of having placed bets through known punters that brought disrepute to the game of cricket  and said Meiyappan's passion for the game is questionable.

According to the panel, both Meiyappan and Kundra damaged the faith the people in the sport, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL.

The panel said both  Meiyappan and Kundra, who is the husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, had violated the anti-corruption code by betting regularly. "The purity of the game has been affected by the actions of India Cements and CSK. Fans have been cheated," said Justice Lodha.

"The fact that Meiyappan was integral part of CSK, he ought not to have indulged in corrupt practices. Any person who has true passion for the game will never be involved in betting. Gurunath has not only indulged in betting but he has brought disrepute to cricket & the IPL. Being the face if franchise, Gurunath's actions reflects on the owners India Cements," the judge remarked.

"Gurunath Meiyappan acted in violation of IPL laws. It is evident from the decision of SC that matter is serious. India Cements did not take any action against Meiyappan," he added.

Justice Lodha said it is for the Board of Control for Cricket in India or BCCI to take a decision on  whether Chennai Super Kings or Rajasthan Royals will be bought by another franchise.

Earlier, a commission appointed by then BCCI chief N Srinivasan had given Meiyappan and Raj Kundra a clean chit, saying there was no evidence of wrong doing against them.

The BCCI panel's decision was challenged by Cricket Association of Bihar secretary Aditya Verma in the Bombay High Court. Srinivasan was charged with shielding his son-in-law and others.

In July 2013, the Bombay High Court found the BCCI probe panel illegal and said the report was null and void.

In August 2013, the BCCI moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court order. In October, the apex court appointed the three-member Justice Mukul Mudgal committee to investigate, but not impose punishment.

The Mudgal panel submitted its report in February, 2014. It said  Meiyappan was the face of CSK and was involved in betting and sharing team information. It also said  Kundra participated in betting.

In January this year, the court set up the Lodha committee to determine amount of punishment for them and their teams.

In March, the panel issued showcause notices to Meiyappan and Kundra seeking their reply on the quantum of punishment.