New Delhi: Prime accused in the 2000 match-fixing case, bookie Sanjeev Chawla has made a startling revelation in his disclosure to the Delhi Police.
According to a leading Indian news daily, In his disclosure statement to the Delhi Police, the London-based cricket bookmaker has reportedly claimed that "no cricket match is fairly played" and "…all the cricket matches which people see are fixed".
In addition to that, he said, “a very big syndicate/underworld mafia” influences all cricket games and were like “movies which are already being directed by someone”.
In the statement, which is part of a supplementary chargesheet submitted to the court but doesn’t have the accused’s signature, Chawla revealed before the police that the syndicate had on its target the case’s investigation officer DCP (Crime Branch) Dr G Ram Gopal Naik and that his life was under threat.
The bookie, while confessing that he was involved in match-fixing, added that he could not give more details as “a very big syndicate/underworld mafia is involved in this matter and they are dangerous people and if he says anything they will get him killed”.
Special CP (Crime) Praveer Ranjan said, “Since the matter is still under investigation, we may not be able to share any intricate details.”
The Delhi Police in supplementary chargesheet have also mentioned that accused's non-cooperation in the investigation proceedings also prove that he was involved in the crime.
Chawla walked out of the Tihar Jail earlier this month in absence of High Court’s stay on the trial court’s bail order. The other accused in the case, working closely with Chawla, Krishan Kumar, Rajesh Kalra, and Sunil Dara also walked out on bail.
The Delhi Police, in return, has approached the Supreme Court with its chargesheet which includes his conversation of former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje. The matter will be heard in the court next month.
