MUMBAI IN FINAL AFTER TENSE FINISH.....

• Rajasthan Royals innings
• Wet Ground: Rajasthan Royals - 0/0
• Rain: Rajasthan Royals - 0/0
• Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 42 runs, 0 wicket)
• Rajasthan Royals: 50 runs in 7.5 overs (47 balls), Extras 1
• Rajasthan Royals: 100 runs in 13.4 overs (82 balls), Extras 2
• Rajasthan Royals: 150 runs in 19.4 overs (118 balls), Extras 6
• 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 27 balls (BJ Hodge 14, DH Yagnik 31, Ex 7)
• Innings Break: Rajasthan Royals - 165/6 in 20.0 overs (BJ Hodge 19, DH Yagnik 31)

• Mumbai Indians innings
• Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 45 runs, 0 wicket)
• Mumbai Indians: 50 runs in 7.1 overs (43 balls), Extras 1
• 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 43 balls (DR Smith 26, AP Tare 25, Ex 1)
• Mumbai Indians: 100 runs in 12.0 overs (72 balls), Extras 7
• DR Smith: 50 off 38 balls (6 x 4, 1 x 6)
• 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 29 balls (DR Smith 28, KD Karthik 22, Ex 5)
• Mumbai Indians: 150 runs in 18.2 overs (110 balls), Extras 8

Gurunath Meiyappan arrested in Mumbai......

Gurunath Meiyappan, a top official of the Chennai Super Kings franchise and son-in-law of the BCCI president N Srinivasan, has been formally arrested by Mumbai Police on charges of cheating, forgery and fraud. The development, late on Friday night, is the most serious setback to the IPL in its six-year history and has serious implications for the BCCI as well given the names involved.

As of early Saturday morning there was no news of an emergency BCCI meeting but it is expected that events will move fast through the day, to discuss the issue of leadership - though Srinivasan insisted he would not step down - and also Chennai Super Kings' participation in the IPL final on Sunday.

Gurunath had been summoned to Mumbai for questioning over betting and links to bookies and flew in on Friday evening.

"We have interrogated Mr Gurunath after he arrived here at the crime branch headquarters," Himanshu Roy, the joint commissioner of Mumbai Police, said. "We have gone through questioning with him in detail and after due deliberation, we have arrived at the conclusion there is evidence of involvement in offence we are investigating and therefore he has been placed under arrest. He will be produced in court within 24 hours as per law."

Reports suggest Gurunath's interrogation in Mumbai will continue through Friday night, and he will also be confronted with Virender "Vindoo" Dara Singh, the actor arrested earlier this week for alleged contact with bookies. Police investigations suggested that Vindoo and Gurunath were in frequent telephonic contact. Vindoo was also seen in the CSK box at IPL matches.

Gurunath's lawyer PS Raman said: "We are exploring all legal possibilities. We are waiting for the remand report before reading the charges against him."

Srinivasan had not commented in public since the reports first emerged on Wednesday that his son-in-law was linked to the IPL scandal, but after the arrest he maintained he would not resign as BCCI president. "I have done nothing wrong," he told NDTV. "I am not resigning, the board is largely supportive of me."

Gurunath's connection to Super Kings was the subject of dispute through the day. He was the public face of the franchise, his Twitter handle said he was the "team principal", he was seen as Super Kings' representative at auctions and at IPL owners' meetings. Yet on Friday evening India Cements, the owners of the franchise and of which Srinivasan is the managing director, said Gurunath was only an honorary member of the team management.

The implications of Gurunath's arrest involve both Super Kings, who have qualified for the final to be played on May 26, and Srinivasan.

His arrest brings into question Super Kings' participation in the final - under IPL rules, the BCCI-IPL can terminate a franchise agreement "with immediate effect if: c) The Franchise, any Franchise Group Company and/ or any owner acts in any way which has a material adverse effect upon the reputation or standing of the League, BCCI-IPL, BCCI, the Franchise, the team (or any other team in the League) and/ or the game of cricket."

More importantly, and with wider implication, Srinivasan's position within the BCCI is likely to be under serious threat - not only because Meiyappan happens to be his son-in-law but because Srinivasan heads India Cements, who are owners of the Super Kings. The conflict of interest that arises from Srinivasan's dual position as BCCI president and de facto owner of an IPL franchise now has a serious immediate implication: he will, as board president, have to oversee any disciplinary action against either Gurunath or the franchise.

An IPL insider clarified that Meiyappan's change of designation was not likely to have any impact on the action that needs to be taken. "The moment you're a team management member, irrespective of the designation, the Anti-Corruption code applies to you. And nobody can deny the fact that he is a part of the ownership group and team management."

PM leaves on Monday for visits to Japan, Thailand......

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves on Monday on a three-day visit to Japan to give a fresh impetus to strategic partnership and push for early conclusion of a bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation. 

Singh will hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on a wide spectrum of issues of mutual interest and discuss ways to bolster strategic and global partnership between the two countries, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said.Asked about the civil nuclear cooperation agreement negotiations for which have not made much headway since Japan was struck by Fukushima nuclear disaster in March, 2011, he said, "Agreements always take a certain amount of time. Discussions have given some impetus recently." 

Indicating that several issues still need to be worked out, he said, "There are a number of stages we have to go through before we reach the signature. I can't put a date on it. We would certainly like to conclude this." 

"We hope to make by the end of this year more progress in this field," he said in response to questions.

Japanese officials have affirmed that Tokyo is committed to the nuclear cooperation pact notwithstanding its strong concerns over nuclear safety. 

While Japan has backed the Indo-US nuclear deal and the exemptions given to India from international technology sanctions, successive governments in Tokyo have found the going tough in garnering political support for it in the face of stiff opposition from the non-proliferation lobby in that country. 

Singh will be accompanied by National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and senior officials. 

On his way back from Tokyo, Singh will visit Bangkok on May 30-31 aimed at elevating bilateral relations into a "strategic partnership" but the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement is unlikely to be inked with some sticky issues still to be sorted out. 

Gurunath leaves for Mumbai to appear before police.....

Madurai: Facing Mumbai Police summons for questioning in the spot-fixing scandal, Gurunath Meiyappan, CSK team owner and son-in-law of BCCI President N Srinivasan, on Friday left by a chartered aircraft for Mumbai to appear before the police. 

Gurunath, who has been named by actor Vindoo Dara Singh as being involved in betting, took the flight a little after 5 pm, the deadline set by Mumbai Police for appearing before them for questioning in connection with the scandal.

He is said to be accompanied by a noted lawyer of the Madras High Court P S Raman. Raman had arrived in the city earlier in the day and held consultations with Gurunath who reached here from Kodaikanal where his father-in-law owns an estate.Earlier in the day, the police had rejected Gurunath`s plea for appearing before them on Monday after the IPL final match which CSK will be playing in Kolkata.

Meiyappan is under the scanner for his proximity to Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh, arrested for his alleged association with bookmakers.

On Thursday a four-member team from the Mumbai crime branch had come here looking for Meiyappan and carrying a brief to question him and in case he was not available, deliver summons to him, asking him to appear before the crime branch in Mumbai between 11 AM and 5 PM on Friday.

Since no one was present at his home, a copy of the summons was pasted at his residence and a copy delivered to CSK`s office here. 

Meiyappan only honorary member of CSK: India Cements....

Chennai: Gurunath Meiyappan, who has been facing the heat after his alleged links with arrested Vindoo Dara Singh came to light, has now been disowned by India Cements the owner of the Chennai Super Kings.

In a statement by India Cements, it has said that Meiyappan is neither the owner, CEO, nor the team Principal of the Chennai Super Kings. He is only an honorary member of the Chennai team management.

"Mr Gurunath is only one of the members (Honorary) of the Management Team of Chennai Super Kings. India Cements follows zero tolerance policy and if anyone is proved guilty, strict action will be taken immediately. India Cements assures full co-operation with BCCI and the Law Enforcement authorities," India Cements said in the statement.

India Cements has also assured full cooperation to the BCCI in its investigation against spot-fixing in the Indian Premiere League.

This statement comes after reports of the BCCI considering the termination of the franchise. 
source:zee

Salman Khan’s ‘Mental’ girl Sana Khan accused of kidnapping minor.....

New Delhi: Sana Khan – who is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Salman Khan’s ‘Mental - is absconding after being booked by the Navi Mumbai police for allegedly trying to kidnap a 15-year-old girl.


According to a leading daily, the teenager had refused her cousin Naved Khan`s advances. 

While Naved and two of his friends - Kshitij Gopinath Dubey and Vismit Vilas Ambre – have been arrested, the actress has gone into hiding, disrupting the entire shooting schedule of ‘Mental’. 

A 17-year old boy - who was with the accused when they tried to kidnap the girl - has been booked under the Juvenile Act. 

The 25-year-old actress – who became a household name after her stint in ‘Bigg Boss 6’ - has reportedly not reported on the sets of ‘Mental’ sets ever since the mother of the victim filed a complaint against her at the Turbhe police station on April 30. 

The complaint says that Sana had tried to kidnap the girl when she was returning from her class X tuitions. 

Senior Police Inspector Rajesh Katkar of Turbhe police station said that his teams are looking for this Bollywood newbie.

"One team had gone to the Oshiwara residence of the accused, but she was not there,” Katkar said.

On the other hand, a production assistant who deals with cast and crew of ‘Mental’, said that the entire team of the movie has no information about Sana going underground. 

“Our next shoot is scheduled early next week in Lavasa. If what you are telling me is true, then we are in big trouble,” she said. 

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is soft, I am not: Rahul........

New Delhi: With the Congress readying itself for an early Lok Sabha elections and electoral battles in key states, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has sent out a strong message to his party colleagues that indiscipline and factionalism will be dealt with strongly. 

Talking to separate groups of Congress workers at DPCC office in Central Delhi, yesterday, Rahul underlined the need for better coordination between the party and the government while asking MLAs, MPs and senior leaders to start preparations for the polls slated for November. 

"The Congress President (Sonia Gandhi) is soft. But I am not soft. I will not tolerate indiscipline. We must work unitedly," Rahul was quoted as saying by two MLAs. Rahul has been trying hard to reinvigorate the party ahead of the crucial electoral battles starting with assembly polls in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. 

Among the areas that Rahul has identified for improvement is better coordination between the party and the government. 

The Congress scion’s remarks are being seen as a damage control measure in view of the - reported - bitter feud between Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and state Congress chief J P Agarwal. 

“He woke up all of us. We will fight elections together,” Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters after the meeting. 

Aggarwal also insisted the differences had been resolved. 

"The vision with which Rahul Gandhi is interacting with us clearly shows that his intention is to strengthen the Congress party in a way, that party can work for the people in the coming 40 years," said Chandini Chowk MP Kapil Sibal. 

Gurunath Meiyappan always had links with bookies of Chennai, Dubai, reveals N Srinivasan`s son........

Mumbai: His family is turning out to be his biggest enemy. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief N Srinivasan, who is already facing the heat with his son-in law Gurunath Meiyappan being sought by the police in connection with the probe into the spot-fixing scandal in the IPL, now has to contend with his disgruntled son, who has opened a can of worms about the family’s “dubious connections”. 

Ashwin, 44, minces no words while disclosing his brother-in-law’s alleged involvement in betting and spot-fixing. “Guru (he addresses Meiyappan that way) had several connections with known bookies from Chennai and Dubai and was regularly in touch with them even before the IPL started.” he said. “What began as a relatively smaller side-business became a full-fledged one over the years.”

Pointing out how Meiyappan is a Chettiar, a community known for its affinity to trade and business, Ashwin told dna: “He has been steadily increasing his foothold over my father’s business. Publicly, his wife and my sister Rupa is an executive director in India Cements, my father’s company, and Guru has agreed to merely remain the head of Chennai Super Kings.”

The MBA in finance from Cornell University is equally forthcoming about his father’s “questionable” decision to invest in a small aircraft, which needed refuelling, when he could own one. “On all his trips, to and from anywhere abroad, isn’t it strange that the mighty N Srinivasan has to waste four hours in Dubai every time while his aircraft refuels? And mind you, the fuel halt will not be at Kuwait, Sharjah or anywhere else,” the son of BCCI’s most powerful man disclosed.

“Who are these regular golf partners he plays with on these halts?” According to Ashwin, Srinivasan has the wherewithal to buy a bigger aircraft, but still chose to invest in one which requires a fuelling halt “for convenient reasons”.

Turning his ire to his brother-in-law again, Ashwin says Guru is purposely poisoning his parents’ mind to ensure that the rift between them widens. A year ago, Ashwin accused his father of homophobia and of using his clout to unleash a cycle of violence against him and his partner Avi Mukherjee. The couple alleged that the police picked them up from Escobar, an upmarket Bandra restaurant-pub, on April 30, 2012, and beat them with iron rods at the behest of Srinivasan.

Calling his brother-in-law ungrateful, Ashwin said: “He keeps raising my drug-addiction problem to tell people how he was pushed into lending a helping hand in my father’s businesses when even he knows that I am more qualified and experienced than him.” As proof that his partner and he stayed away from drugs since 2002, Ashwin showed dna their urine reports. Their psychiatrist Dr SL Khanna confirmed the same.

Ashwin reveals that his parents were unhappy when Guru and Rupa started dating each other after meeting at the Madras Club while playing pool. “They were livid because he was not a Brahmin, but a Chettiar. My mother, Chitra, threatened to disown Rupa, but my father, who cursed Guru and his family to the skies after gulping down five scotches every evening, had no qualms joining him over golf given the clout of his family-run AVM Group,” said Ashwin, who has in the past headed the projects department at the ABB Group’s Zurich office.

According to him, his parents were in talks with chess champion Viswanathan Anand for marrying Rupa, but she eventually married Guru. “When my maternal uncle Shankar passed away, my parents did not want to call them for the last rites, but I persisted with my mother and saw to it that they were called,” he revealed.

“Though Rupa and Guru have not spoken to me since I fell foul with my parents, I feel no rancour against them. But how can I tolerate him maligning me for a drug problem from a decade ago to manipulate my parents?”

Repeated attempts to reach Meiyappan and Srinivasan on their cellphones and their Chennai and Kodaikanal residences drew a blank.