The top court in India has slammed world cricket chief Narayanaswami Srinivasan for what it termed “conflict of interest in Indian cricket administration”, a report published on NDTV's website said on Monday.

“You can't make a distinction between BCCI and IPL… IPL is a by-product of BCCI,” said a two-member special bench of the Supreme Court during a hearing of the Indian Premier League (IPL) scam probe report.

The court-appointed panel probing the scandal had in its report released last Monday exonerated Srinivasan of match-fixing and also absolved him of trying to scuttle investigations into match-fixing.

The BCCI petition denied the charge against Srinivasan, saying the player, identified only as ‘individual 3’ in the panel's report, had been “orally reprimanded” by concerned officials. The court has not disclosed the nature of the code violation nor when it took place.

The apex court had barred Srinivasan from carrying out his duties as BCCI president in March until it had delivered its final verdict, although it did not stop him from heading the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Chennai-based cement tycoon took over as the ICC chairman in June but he is keen to return to the helm of the BCCI and he is expected to seek a second three-year term as board president in elections due on December 17.

The panel has accused Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan of being involved in betting activities during the IPL while he was the team principal of one of the tournament's teams, the Chennai Super Kings.

The franchise is owned by India Cements, whose managing director is Srinivasan while the team is captained by India skipper Mahendra Dhoni.

The sixth IPL season last year was mired in controversy after police launched legal proceedings against several officials and cricketers, including former Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, for illegal betting and spot-fixing.

The top Indian court, during today’s hearing said, “The ownership of team raises conflict of interest. President of BCCI has to run the show but you have a team which raises questions and it can't be wished away”.

The BCCI lawyers argued that there is no conflict of interest because the high court in Mumbai had dismissed the issue.

“One of the employees of your team was involved in betting. You have to reply because it will affect the position and the dignity of BCCI president position,” said the bench referring to his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan.

“The benefit of doubt should go to the game and not an individual,” the court observed.

“Some people who are in BCCI now own a team. Now it has become a mutual benefit society… if people know that a game is fixed who will then visit the stadium?” the judges questioned. “In India, cricket is like a religion… recognition comes when one lac [100,000] people in Eden Gardens applaud,” they added.

The court later adjourned the hearing till November 25.