Errant Indian pacer S Sreesanth and two other bowlers from Rajasthan Royals team were arrested in a post-midnight operation in Mumbai today by Delhi Police for spot-fixing IPL matches for payments of upto Rs 60 lakhs just for giving away pre-determined number of runs in an over.
A special cell of the Delhi police arrested Sreesanth and his teammates — Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan — for indulging in spot-fixing in at least three IPL matches as per arrangements with bookies who have underworld connections abroad.
The players, who have been suspended by the BCCI, have been brought to Delhi and charged under section 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
They are also likely to be booked under the stringent MCOCA, Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, which could land them in jail without bail and their confessions before a DCP level officer will be admissible in court.
Addressing a crowded press conference, Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said 14 bookies have also been arrested in connection with the same case. The Delhi Police are looking for two more bookies but have ruled out any other player’s involvement in the case.
The police revealed explosive details of the modus operandi followed by bookies and the cricketers, giving audio-visual proof of three IPL matches which were manipulated.
Kumar listed three Rajasthan Royals’ matches — on May 5, 9 and 15 against Pune Warriors, Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians respectively — where spot-fixing took place.
Kumar revealed how bookies gave the caught players specific approval codes which were used to signify a compromised over during the matches.
A shocked BCCI promptly suspended the three players from the IPL and referred the matter to its Disciplinary Committee for further action. A top BCCI source indicated that the trio could be banned for life.
BCCI President N Srinivasan said a few “bad eggs” would not be allowed to sully the game and the punishment handed down to them would be “sufficient deterrent” for others.
“I don’t know about others but I am shocked, the BCCI never expected it. It was a bolt from the blue. We will see whatever is there to be done is done. The sport is clean, we are running it clean and one or two bad eggs cannot sully the game,” Srinivasan told reporters from Kodaikanal in a video conference in Mumbai.
“When we made an example last year (by banning five domestic cricketers involved in spot-fixing), we thought the message was clear and people would not do anything like this. But we will continue with our efforts. The action that we take against these players would be sufficient deterrent,” he added.
Back in Delhi, Kumar unveiled damning evidence of the players’ involvement, revealing the spot-fixing codes that they used to signify their consent to the bookies.
“In certain overs they (the players) were supposed to give away a certain amount of runs. The bookies gave players instructions that they have to indicate that they would give away these runs,” Kumar said.
“The instructions were ‘put the towel in your trousers or take time setting up the field or take out your locket or shirt or the vests that you are wearing’,” added the top cop.
Kumar gave a detailed description of how the players gave a certain number of runs in designated overs on the instruction of bookies in the three matches that were compromised. Kumar said the police team was present in all these matches.
“Our team was present in all these matches. One of the reasons was because those signals could have been given during commercial breaks also, so, to keep track our team was watching the matches at the stadium,” he said.
“Sreesanth was arrested at Carter road in Mumbai, Chandila outside hotel Intercontinental where some of the bookies were staying and Ankeet was arrested from Hotel Trident,” said Kumar.
Asked about how the investigation began, Kumar said, “It was an information that we had that the Mumbai underworld is indulging in match-fixing or spot fixing and contacting a number of bookies and some players are mixed up,” he said.
“We were keeping them under surveillance. The names of these three came to light and we waited for a situation when all three could be pinned down,” he added.
Asked whether Dawood Ibrahim or other underworld dons were involved, Kumar said, “it is difficult to name anybody unless we have a credible proof. There is no evidence on which basis I can name any member of the underworld…but it is sufficient to say that there is an overseas connection and we have definite proof.”
“These three players knew each other and they knew that each of them was involved.”
Asked whether Australia’s Shaun Tait or any other player, Indian or foreigner, is involved, Kumar said “We have no such evidence. According to us, Shaun Tait is not involved.”
The Delhi Police took assistance from the Marine Drive Police Station in South Mumbai under whose jurisdiction Hotel Trident falls. The players were taken to Delhi in an early-morning flight.
Reacting to the developments, Rajasthan Royals issued a statement, saying they were shocked by the development.
“We have been informed that three of our players have been called in for investigation on spot fixing in matches. We are completely taken by surprise. We do not have the full facts at this point and are unable to confirm anything,” the statement read.
“We are in touch with the BCCI on this matter. We will fully cooperate with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation. The management at Rajasthan Royals has a zero-tolerance approach to anything that is against the spirit of the game,” it added.
The Sports Ministry asked the IPL authorities to hand down deterrent punishment to the players, saying the Board should ensure that such unethical incidents do not happen in future.
“The Minister of Sports, Shri Jitendra Singh has spoken to Chairman of the IPL Shri Rajeev Shukla on the issue and impressed upon him to take urgent steps to put in place a mechanism to prevent such unethical activities and ensure clean sports in the country,” a release from the Ministry said.
“The Minister also emphasised that strict action be taken against all those who are found guilty to serve as a deterrent to others,” it added.
Ever since the league began in 2008, almost all the seasons have been marred by controversies. Last year also five players were suspended on spot fixing charges. The players were, TP Sudhindra (Deccan Chargers), Mohnish Mishra (Pune Warriors), Amit Yadav, Shalabh Srivastava (Kings XI Punjab) and Abhinav Bali.
And it’s not the first time that Sreesanth is at the centre of a controversy in the IPL. The temperamental paceman was involved in the infamous ‘slapgate’ in 2008.
He was slapped by India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and TV cameras caught Sreesanth crying. However, very recently Sreesanth claimed that he was never slapped but elbowed by the ‘turbanator’.
In the 2012 season, Australia’s Luke Pomersbach was arrested for allegedly misbehaving with the woman, a US citizen of Indian origin, at the Maurya Sheraton Hotel.
A case was registered against him under various sections of IPC including section 354 of IPC (outraging modesty of woman), 323 (hurt), 454 (lurking house trespass) and 511 (Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment).
Then Bollywood star and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders Shah Rukh Khan was involved in an altercation with security officials and MCA imposed a five-year ban on him for entering the Wankhede stadium.
In another controversy, Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise was terminated by the BCCI for breaching its terms of agreement, in 2011.
