New Delhi: The probe into the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal is widening each day. Sources in the Mumbai Police now say that they are probing a Chennai link to the scandal. Sources say several calls made to a Chennai number are being probed.
This comes a day after more drama unfolded in the scandal on Tuesday. Bollywood connections were established with actor Vindoo Dara Singh’s arrest in Mumbai, while the Delhi Police revealed details of Sreesanth’s lavish spending, saying he used the spot-fixing money to buy expensive clothes and gadgets.
The competitiveness between Delhi and Mumbai police continues to yield rapid developments. On Tuesday, the Mumbai Police arrested actor Vindoo Dara Singh in their IPL probe in what’s now the first direct link of Bollywood with the betting mafia. Vindoo has been accused of being involved with bookies and being a conduit in the illegal operation. Alpesh Patel, a man accused of facilitating transfer of over crore of rupees from Dubai to India through hawala was also arrested.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police took Indian cricketer Sreesanth to Jaipur and raided a woman friend’s house. The police seized a new Blackberry Z10 phone from her home, a pair of luxury brand diesel jeans worth close to Rs 2 lakh and purchase receipts of luxury items. The police claim the items were purchased through money paid by bookies. The statements of shopkeepers too were recorded in a clear attempt to establish the money trail.
And in more bad news for the former India pacer, the police added an additional and harsher charge against him, that of criminal breach of trust, saying he had cheated his franchisee Rajasthan Royals of its contractual obligations by indulging in spot-fixing and going against the sworn code of conduct.
The Delhi Police also claims it has evidence to prove that another attempt was made by Sreesanth to spot-fix an IPL game, sources said. Sreesanth made an attempt to spot-fix a Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab match on May 9, sources added.
Sreesanth has admitted to this in a taped conversation. He admitted that he bowled a no ball on the last ball, but his attempts to spot-fix the May 9 match did not materialise, sources said.
A Delhi court had remanded Sreesanth and 10 others to five more days in police custody in the IPL spot-fixing case while sending four others to judicial custody.
However, Sreesanth denied any wrongdoing. “I am innocent and have done no wrong. I have never indulged in any spot fixing,” suspended pacer Sreesanth said on Tuesday. In a statement emailed to the media by his lawyer Rebecca John, the cricketer said I have never indulged in any spot fixing and I have always played cricket in the spirit of the game”.
Sreesanth also said “as a cricketer, I have learnt to take knocks along with accolades, in my stride. I recognise that I am going through a tough period in my life.
“I have utmost faith in our judicial process and I am confident that with time I will be proved innocent, and my honour and dignity will be vindicated and restored,” the statement said.
(With additional information from PTI)
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