The involvement of Mr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs, in the Indian Premier League franchise for the Kochi team has raised a number of questions. It now transpires that a person associated with him has got 19 per cent free equity worth Rs. 70 crores in the company that led the consortium which got the franchise.

The IPL is not just a sporting event, but is a big business enterprise in which big money is involved. It is highly inappropriate for a minister in the Union government to be involved in such murky dealings.

It is incumbent upon Mr. Tharoor to step down from office till his name is cleared of any unethical or irregular behaviour. He should therefore step down till his name is cleared of any impropriety in the IPL Kochi team.

The UPA government should also explain whether its ministers can be involved in business dealings in the name of IPL. The government should probe the source of certain funds flowing into the tournament and reconsider whether any tax exemptions or concessions are justified for this commercial enterprise.

According to the Prevention of Corruption Act if a person in public office is aware of murky transactions, he or she is liable to prosecution. Shashi Tharoor cannot therefore plead innocence. Tharoor has off late become a liability for the Congress. His controversial twits have landed him and his party in deep political embarrassment many a time. But, this time his alleged involvement in the murky deals of IPL is turning out be a political storm for Congress.

However, the investigations into la-affaire IPL should not confine to Tharoor only. A thorough and comprehensive investigation should be conducted on all aspects concerning this huge cricketainment business called IPL. The IPL has not just commercialized the cricket but even leading to criminalization of this most popular sport in India.