Anti-corruption unit of ICC-BCCI not qualified to probe: Committee probing scam
New Delhi: The anti-corruption units of the ICC and BCCI are "technically not qualified" to carry out indepth probe in betting and spot-fixing cases, a committee probing the scam today told the Supreme Court urging
New Delhi: The anti-corruption units of the ICC and BCCI are "technically not qualified" to carry out indepth probe in betting and spot-fixing cases, a committee probing the scam today told the Supreme Court urging it to get the matter investigated by a competent statutory agency.
"The Supreme Court may therefore consider directing a comprehensive investigation into the entire betting and match fixing episode in cricket and in particular in IPL by a competent statutory investigative agency with a view to identifying and prosecuting the criminals involved," the committee said in its report.
"It has been brought on record that the anti-corruption unit of BCCI or the ICC anti-corruption and security unit are technically not qualified to make such investigation indepth," the report said.
It further said that officials of both the units have "expressed helplessness" before the committee to do such probe in the absence of any legal mandate.
In the report, the committee said it has probed the roles of players of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals
franchisee following allegations against them. In its report, the three-member committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal, also said that as per the allegations made before it, players of "another IPL team" were also involved in the spot fixing and it was being probed by the Pune Police.
"However, due to paucity of time, the committee could not probe into the aspect of the matter," the report clarified. It further said that as per the statement given before the Delhi Police by alleged bookie Chandresh Patel, a Hyderabad based prominent businessman, who is also a politician, was "actively involved in fixing of players" and had "attempted fixing of certain players of another team playing in IPL."
"There has been entirely no investigation at any stage as regards the veracity of such claims/allegations. It is necessary to delve deep into the matter in as much as if allegations are found to be true after a proper investigation, drastic deterrent action can be taken," it said.
"However, if the allegations are found to be untrue on any such proper investigation, the cloud of suspicion which has engulfed the game of cricket will stand dissipated," it said.
The report said that police named only one person who laid bets has been charged as an accused.
"Evidently Mumbai police is protecting lots of persons who are participants of betting activities through this syndicate," the report said, adding that Mumbai police has either been extremely naive in pursuing its investigation or has "deliberately not investigated" the entire betting operation.
"Curiously, the Mumbai Police has not charged anyone else except Meiyappan for laying bets in IPL matches through Ramesh Vyas, Vindu Dara Singh and others. It is absolutely unbelievable that Mumbai Police has failed to locate all such other players who were involved in this betting racket. It is unconceivable such a large betting syndicate would function for the benefit of only one person, Meiyappan," the report said.
It also noted lack of coordination between Mumbai and Delhi Police in handling the case.
"The fact that Mumbai police did not accept the role of Dawood Ibrahim in the betting racket in Mumbai evinces that the Delhi and Mumbai Police are working at cross purposes insofar as link to Dawood Ibrahim is concerned," it said.
"In such a grave matter of national security pertaining to involvement of a terrorist gang in running illegal hawala operations in the lucrative betting market in cricket, the two top police organisations cannot be permitted to work at cross purposes," the report said.
"The Supreme Court may therefore consider directing a comprehensive investigation into the entire betting and match fixing episode in cricket and in particular in IPL by a competent statutory investigative agency with a view to identifying and prosecuting the criminals involved," the committee said in its report.
"It has been brought on record that the anti-corruption unit of BCCI or the ICC anti-corruption and security unit are technically not qualified to make such investigation indepth," the report said.
It further said that officials of both the units have "expressed helplessness" before the committee to do such probe in the absence of any legal mandate.
In the report, the committee said it has probed the roles of players of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals
franchisee following allegations against them. In its report, the three-member committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal, also said that as per the allegations made before it, players of "another IPL team" were also involved in the spot fixing and it was being probed by the Pune Police.
"However, due to paucity of time, the committee could not probe into the aspect of the matter," the report clarified. It further said that as per the statement given before the Delhi Police by alleged bookie Chandresh Patel, a Hyderabad based prominent businessman, who is also a politician, was "actively involved in fixing of players" and had "attempted fixing of certain players of another team playing in IPL."
"There has been entirely no investigation at any stage as regards the veracity of such claims/allegations. It is necessary to delve deep into the matter in as much as if allegations are found to be true after a proper investigation, drastic deterrent action can be taken," it said.
"However, if the allegations are found to be untrue on any such proper investigation, the cloud of suspicion which has engulfed the game of cricket will stand dissipated," it said.
The report said that police named only one person who laid bets has been charged as an accused.
"Evidently Mumbai police is protecting lots of persons who are participants of betting activities through this syndicate," the report said, adding that Mumbai police has either been extremely naive in pursuing its investigation or has "deliberately not investigated" the entire betting operation.
"Curiously, the Mumbai Police has not charged anyone else except Meiyappan for laying bets in IPL matches through Ramesh Vyas, Vindu Dara Singh and others. It is absolutely unbelievable that Mumbai Police has failed to locate all such other players who were involved in this betting racket. It is unconceivable such a large betting syndicate would function for the benefit of only one person, Meiyappan," the report said.
It also noted lack of coordination between Mumbai and Delhi Police in handling the case.
"The fact that Mumbai police did not accept the role of Dawood Ibrahim in the betting racket in Mumbai evinces that the Delhi and Mumbai Police are working at cross purposes insofar as link to Dawood Ibrahim is concerned," it said.
"In such a grave matter of national security pertaining to involvement of a terrorist gang in running illegal hawala operations in the lucrative betting market in cricket, the two top police organisations cannot be permitted to work at cross purposes," the report said.