The Supreme Court on Monday suggested that if “somebody very close to” N Srinivasan is indicted by the Mudgal panel in the IPL 2013 corruption case, it may affect the confidence of the people in the BCCI as an institution.

The court further delved into whether the names of players investigated by the Mudgal panel over their alleged complicity should be made public or not, even as all the parties — BCCI, its former president Srinivasan and Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) — unanimously opposed the disclosure of names.

Apparently referring to the alleged involvement of Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan in the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal, the court asked the counsel for Srinivasan and the BCCI what kind of orders it should pass if the panel report concludes wrongdoing by his family member.

A bench of Justices T S Thakur and F M I Kalifulla said that although it was yet to peruse the entire report, it would wish to hear preliminary submissions on the issue.

“Let us say there is nothing against Srinivasan but something against his family member. What should be done in such a case? We will also have to see the nature of the allegations but let us say somebody very close to him has been held guilty of something illegal or improper. Will not the proximity affect the confidence of the people in the BCCI as an institution?,” asked the bench.

It added, “There may be nothing against him but if there are findings against somebody closely connected, does it not affect your status? What is the desirable thing to do in such a situation? We are examining the scope of this petition.”

The counsel for Srinivasan and BCCI said that no disqualification of any nature could be brought up against Srinivasan even if his son-in-law is indicted by the panel, and that action would be taken against Meiyappan separately.

“How can my relationship with anybody in the family who has done something wrong preclude me from contesting elections for the president? There cannot be such debarment,” said senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Srinivasan.

Representing BCCI, senior advocate C A Sundaram said, “Indictment of a relative is not a ground to debar even a parliamentarian and this court has never said so.” Srinivasan is likely to contest for the post of BCCI president in the election to be held on November 20 during the Annual General Meeting.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for CAB, however said that Srinivasan cannot be allowed to be associated with the BCCI’s affairs anymore if his son-in-law is indicted, keeping in view the propriety and conflict of interest.

However, all counsel said that the names of players investigated by the panel should not be made public and the court should refrain from making the entire report public in the interest of the game of cricket. The counsel said that the court should decide in its wisdom as to which portion of the report is required to be made public after the bench observed that the findings in the report “may damage reputation”.

They also agreed that their arguments would be confined to the findings of the report and that they would not traverse beyond the scope of the inquiry.

Meanwhile, senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for the probe panel, said that the report was 35 pages long and came attached with an expert view from a renowned former cricketer. The cricketer is learnt to be Sourav Ganguly.

As first reported by The Indian Express, he added that the report did not refer to individuals by name but by different numbers. A separate key to identify them was provided to the judges.

The court then adjourned the case for Friday, indicating that it would take a call on how to proceed with the matter on the next date.

Meanwhile, it also directed the Bombay High Court to confine its hearing to the validity of the rules that permitted Srinivasan to contest the polls and not to transgress to other issues.

The CAB has filed a separate petition in the High Court against the pertinent BCCI rules that did away with a policy of annual rotation to let people from different zones become BCCI presidents.