Sreesanth, others sent to 5 days police custody

 

New Delhi, 16 May 2013 (PTI): Arrested Indian pacer S Sreesanth and 13 others, including two other cricketers of Rajasthan Royals franchise, were today sent to police custody for five days by a court here for being quizzed in connection with the IPL spot-fixing scandal case.

 

Delhi police told the court that it seemed more persons are involved and fresh arrests are expected. The probe suggested that bookies had betted on some other players also, it said.

 

On a day of dramatic developments, Sreesanth and his IPL teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan, who were arrested in Mumbai early today, were brought to the Saket district court complex here with their faces muffled along with 11 Mumbai and Delhi based bookies.

 

They were produced at the residence of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar Sharma inside the Saket court complex and asked to appear one-by-one before him.

 

Media was barred from entering the magistrate’s residence which was under a thick security blanket.

 

During the hearing, special cell of Delhi police sought seven days of custodial interrogation of the cricketers and others to unearth the entire conspiracy relating to spot- fixing in three IPL matches involving Rajasthan Royals.

 

Pubic Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan, appearing for Delhi police, sought police custody of all the accused for confronting them with each other and with electronic evidence, including their laptops, collected during the discreet probe.

 

The custodial interrogation was required to ascertain, if any, the magnitude of conspiracy, Mohan said adding that the investigators also need to find out the source of money allegedly received by the cricketers for indulging in spot fixing.

 

During the arguments, the prosecutor claimed that several other matches in the IPL were also fixed and the accused are required to be interrogated regarding that also.

 

"Huge amount money is involved in the case," Mohan said.

 

Transcripts of tapped conversations between players, bookies

 

New Delhi, 16 May 2013 (PTI): Excerpts of tapped conversations between bookies and IPL cricketers read out by Delhi Police during a press conference here announcing the arrest of three players and 11 bookies allegedly involved in spot-fixing:

 

The first conversation was before a match between Pune Warriors and Rajasthan Royals on May five allegedly between player Ajit Chandila and a bookie Amit:

 

Chandila: Yes, tell me brother. Let me go. I will give the signal. Let the first over go. I will see.

Amit: Do the first over with confidence and with same confidence do the second over for us.

Chandila: Okay, okay. I will do.

Amit: What will be your signal?

Chandila: I will pull my both T-shirts up and down and will then look up before starting the over.

 

In this over, Chandila, however, forgot to give the signal but allegedly gave away 14 runs as promised.

 

"This led to a lot of arguments and demand for return of money (Rs 20 lakh) advanced to him. Another Rs 20 lakh was to be given after the match. Chandila had to return the money," Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar told reporters.

 

The second conversation was allegedly between Sreesanth’s close friend Jiju Janardhan and a bookie Chand before May nine match between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. Sreesanth was to give away 14 runs in the second over he bowled.

 

Chand: What will be the signal?

Jiju: I have told him. He will not do any thing which is unusual. He will tuck in a towel before bowling the second over.
Chand: Brother please advise him to give us some time before starting the over as we can start our booking.

 

The third conversation was between players Chandila and Amit Chavan before yesterday’s match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. Chandila was not playing and allegedly "motivated" Chavan convincing him to give at least 13 runs in his second over.

 

Chavan: I am outside.

Chandila: Okay. Should I say yes?

Chavan: Yes, but how much?

Chandila: They are saying 12.

Chavan: No, I don’t think that’s possible. It will be too much.

Chandila: I have given them assurance. It will be done. Should I say yes?

Chavan: Ok. say yes

Chandila: I have told them 60 (lakh) for one over.

Chavan: Yes ok. I will move my wrist band as an indication.

 

Police said that in a later call, it was decided that Chavan will give away 14 or more runs whenever he bowls his second over. One of them said that they will talk about further details in BBM. PTI SJY PAL 05161948