Kaustubh S. Mayekar

In the wake of recent reports of spot-fixing in the sixth edition of India Premiere League (IPL), Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and Shaikh Shakeel (also known as Chhota Shakeel) are suspected to have committed the crime. A warrant of arrest is issued, which says that these two accused are on the run and cannot be found. They are required to appear before the New Delhi court to answer the said complaint on or before August 16, 2014.

In IPL 6, a sensationalism-based Hindi news channel had conducted a sting operation, which includes footage of cricketers perpetrating the spot-fixing. The sting operation also alleges involvement of Indian cricketers, international players and even team owners. The sting claims to have opened the lid on spot-fixing, and also black money included in the IPL.

The channel named an IPL player claiming he had bowled a no-ball in last year’s first class match on the insistence of the channel’s reporter. He had also assured to change his team in future if he was paid Rs 60 lakh. Another player demanded Rs. 10 lakh for bowling a no-ball in an IPL match. The channel said a pattern had emerged where a particular bowler pitches easy deliveries and there are dropped catches.

The channel’s news reporter had offered money to over a dozen cricket players. Later they aired the clips of cricketers, who were offered to take money to either switch teams or for spot-fixing in matches.

After thorough investigation, the BCCI imposed a life ban on a fast bowler but handed lighter punishments to the other four accused players. Out of the other four players, one was banned for five years; whereas the rest were banned for a year each. The sting operation had showed that they agreed to have illegal deals during IPL 6.

As eventually things were settling down, six international umpires were also caught on camera during a sting conducted by the same channel. The footage claimed that the umpires twisted important match decisions in return for money.

The racket also led to the arrest of three Rajasthan Royals cricketers and had links to Pakistan. A case was registered against all three arrested players under charges of IPC sections 420 (for cheating) and 120 (b) (for conspiracy).

Along with these three cricketers, seven bookies from Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad were arrested by Delhi Police. The arrests were made on the basis of tracking phone calls; at least two dozen of which originated from Pakistan.

A couple of bookies of the total seven arrested from Mumbai in connection with spot-fixing are allegedly linked to Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, who is said to be in Pakistan. Though investigators maintained silence on the issue, the probe may encompass more Indian and some foreign players in the current IPL.

The virus kept spreading all over the country. Later, it was found that it affected even some Bollywood personalities. An actor was arrested by police in connection with the scandal. After alleging that the actor was in touch with bookies and maybe even players participating in the IPL, the Mumbai Police claimed that the actor was in regular touch with one of the owners of IPL team.

Mumbai police later arrested the accused owner. He was confronted with the evidence against him. His name popped up in the scam during revelations by the Bollywood actor. BCCI then suspended him from any involvement in the sport of Cricket and his IPL team.

Soon after the owner was arrested, the police found some evidence against the other team’s owner. He later claimed that he was just helping Delhi Police crime branch in the IPL spot-fixing investigations. According to Delhi Police, the owner also told the investigators that his business partner (an industrialist based in Ahmedabad) was also involved in betting for the last two years.

Altogether, in the last one year, 60 people have been accused and arrested across the country in connection with the spot-fixing scam.

To eradicate this virus from IPL, the Mukul Mugdal committee has been investigating the owners of IPL team. Retired judge Mukul Mudgal, in his report submitted to the Supreme Court said that one of the IPL teams failed to comply with the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Code for Participants. The court, however, propelled the former BCCI president to resign and banned no teams from playing the 7th edition of IPL.

Later, the Supreme Court announced that former India captain Sunil Gavaskar will take over as interim president and take all the matters pertaining to the BCCI in hand.

The tournament seems to have lost its colours. From wall of fame, it has demoted to wall of shame. With involvement of players and umpires in the scam, the game looks no longer a gentleman’s game.