Bangalore: In a major embarrassment to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), former Indian cricket team captain Anil Kumble's bag was stolen from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, reports DNA.
Kumble lodged a complaint with the Cubbon Park police, who said the spin wizard had lost valuables and cash worth Rs45,000. The police were suspecting an insider's role in the theft.
"It could be any of the in-house staffers," joint commissioner of police (crime) Alok Kumar said. The deputy commissioner of police (central division), G Ramesh, said the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain lost his bag between 8 am and 9.45 am on Monday, while he was practising in his team's home ground.
"Kumble kept his bag by the side of the ground while practising. On his return, he found the bag missing. After a futile search for the bag, he came to the Cubbon Park police station around 11 am, and lodged a complaint," Ramesh said.
Following Kumble's complaint, the police visited the stadium and interrogated a few security personnel and ground staff.
"We have collected the details of the security personnel and others who were in the stadium between 8 am and 9.45 am," Ramesh added.
The police criticised the KSCA and its private security personnel for the theft. "The KSCA should have taken adequate security measures especially when the players were practising in the ground," city police commissioner Shankar M Bidari said.
Taking a swipe at the security, joint commissioner Kumar said the theft could have been avoided if there was proper monitoring of the stadium. A KSCA member, B Shreepathy Rao, confirmed that there was no proper monitoring mechanism inside the stadium.
"There is a lack of closed-circuit TV cameras in the stadium to monitor the movements of people. The CCTV issue was raised at a general body meeting, but the work (to install cams) is yet to commence," he said.
