Bengaluru: Karnataka Police's Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested cricketer Nishant Shekhawat for his alleged involvement in fixing a match in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL).
According to a news daily, Shekhawat played an intermediary role between bookie Manoj Kumar alias Monty, and Bengaluru Blasters bowling coach Vinu Prasad, who was held by the crime branch alongside Blasters batsman M Viswanathan in late October.
Shekhawat allegedly tempted Viswanathan into a fix with the help of bowling coach Prasad in the 2018 season. Shekhawat used to play with the Shivamogga Lions franchise at the time.
The report further mentioned that the police discovered Viswanathan was allegedly tasked with scoring less than ten runs in 20 deliveries in a 2018 fixture against Hubli Tigers by allegedly confirming participation in the fix by changing bats and rolling up his sleeves. Viswanathan ultimately made 9 off 17 balls in that innings.
Shekhawat thus becomes the fifth man and second cricketer to be arrested in the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the league which began with the arrest of franchise owner Ali Asfak Thara and the suspension of his franchise Belagavi Panthers last month.
Furthermore, drummer Bhavesh Bafna was also arrested in the ongoing investigation and is being also monitored by the BCCI's anti-corruption unit since he was also the drummer in Bangalore's home games at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
