Players Caught in Spot-fixing Scam

MATCH FIXING// On May 16, 2013, Delhi Police arrested three Rajasthan Royal bowlers— Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan—for allegedly fulfilling promises made to alleged bookies of bowling a bad over each, for a return sum ranging from $36,000 to $109,000 for each over. Along with the three players 11 alleged bookies were also arrested. BCCI, in response to the actions taken by the Delhi Police, suspended the three players. The BCCI Chief N. Srinivasan later in his statement said that, “IPL is not untenable.” The controversy continued to thicken as names of many big fishes came to light. Vindoo Dara Singh, a small-time actor and son of wrestler-turnedactor Late Dara Singh, was also arrested, as the Mumbai Police traced his connections with bookies, BCCI President N. Srinivasan and his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan. Meiyappan, a top official of the Chennai Super Kings franchise, was later arrested by Mumbai Police on charges of betting, cheating, forgery and fraud. Mumbai police team had raided Meiyappan's Chennai residence and summoned him for questioning. They rejected his request for an extension till after IPL-VI finals, and took him into custody. The Income tax department initiated a probe into the hawala and illegal cash transactions involved in the spot-fixing case. Soon after, India Cements sought to dissociate Meiyappan from the CSK franchise, stating that he is neither the team owner, nor the CEO/team principal. Mumbai police said that Meiyappan passed on vital information about CSK to bookies. He has been booked under various sections of the IT Act, Gambling Act and the Indian Penal Code. Meiyappan later said that Vindoo lured him into betting. Vindoo Dara Singh and Meiyappan were later granted bail on condition that they won’t leave the country. Madras High Court had issued notices to BCCI president N. Srinivasan and IPL chairman, among others, on a PIL filed by a Madurai-based lawyer, seeking a government takeover of the administration of the BCCI and the IPL. At the same time voices were being raised by many within the sports ministry demanding Srinivasan's resignation. Srinivasan, however, in his statement said that “I won’t be bulldozed into resigning." On May 29, the sports ministry asked Srinivasan to step down due to conflict of interest in the enquiry. While he refused to resign, he decided to step aside temporarily, making way for Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former BCCI President, who will be taking care if the Board in the absence of Srinivasan. Umpire Asad Rauf was also allegedly involved in the spot-fixing scandal. According to police investigation, the Umpire was showered with expensive gifts from bookies, soon after this was revealed ICC decided to remove Rauf from the Champions Trophy squad. Rauf, has denied all allegations. Adding another twist to the story, on June 6, Raj Kundra, owner of Rajasthan Royals, the team whose players have been accused of spot-fixing, confessed to betting in IPL after being interrogated by the Delhi Police for 10 hours. According to Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, Kundra confessed to betting in the IPL through Goenka and that he placed bets on his team as well. BCCI issued a 12-point diktat to restore IPL's image and suspended Raj Kundra. Sreesanth, Chavan and 18 others who were booked under MCOCA released on bail by a Delhi court however, Chandila was again sent to police custody for further questioning.