New Delhi: The Delhi Police, who is investigating key bookie Sanjeev Chawla for the 2000 match-fixing scandal involving South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, has filed a new charge sheet regarding the case in which they have stated that Mumbai Test and Cochin ODI of the 2000 Ind-SA series were fixed.
Chawla, who is currently a British citizen, was extradited from London in February and he was granted bail by the trial court here on April 30 on furnishing of a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and two sureties of the like amount.
He sought bail saying that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a risk of getting infected in Tihar jail where it is difficult to maintain social distancing.
The trial court, while granting bail said the accused was in custody for the last 76 days and the probe was already complete in the case.
It, however, directed him to give his voice sample and handwriting specimen to the investigating officer in the case.
However, the Delhi Police approached the Supreme Court on May 13, challenging the High Court order. The apex court is likely to take up the matter next month.
Opening Test Match of the series at Mumbai and 1st One-Day International at Cochin were fixed
The South Africans played two Tests and five ODIs in India in the series, and according to the Delhi police’ latest charge sheet, two matches – Mumbai Test and Cochin ODI, were outrightly fixed.
“…on the basis of statements of the witnesses recorded during the investigation, conversation recorded between the accused in the seized audio and video cassettes, CFSL report and other documentary and oral evidence, it can be safely concluded that some of the matches were fixed and in some, an attempt was made to fix them…” the charge sheet read.
“In furtherance of this conspiracy, the 1st Test Match at Mumbai and 1st One-Day International at Cochin were fixed and the same resulted in wrongful gain to the accused and wrongful loss in general to the public at large, who had gone believing that they would perform optimally.
The accused persons have thus committed offences punishable under sections 420 and 120B of IPC,” the charge sheet stated.
Fixing of Mumbai Test explained
“It was decided that South African team will not score more than 250 runs in an innings. Though the South African team won the Test in three days, this was attributed to a very poor performance by India. The Indian team had batted first and scored 225 and the South African team scored only 176. In the 2nd innings, India scored a mere 113 and the South African team won the match by scoring 164 runs only. Thus, the South African team did not score more than 250 runs in both the innings, as committed by accused Hansie Cronje to the fixers. Thus, this match was a fixed one.”
Fixing of Cochin ODI explained
“Constant calls made to Hamid Cassim by Sanjeev Chawla and Hansie Cronje on the night intervening 8/9.03.2000 further corroborate the statement of Hansie Cronje made before King Commission that he was being regularly pressurised to underperform as per their bidding.”
Hansie: “No, no … They were saying that they were already doing Cochin, the other guys are already angry with me because I have not received their money…”
Sanjeev: “I can deposit the money in your account, it is not a problem … Tomorrow itself I can deposit the money.”
Attempt to fix the Bangalore Test
“Though Hansie Cronje had spoken to other players, as per the statements made before the King Commission, this match was not fixed although an attempt was made to fix it.”
2nd, 3rd, 4th ODIs were not fixed
The charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police mentioned that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ODI of the series were not fixed, but Hansie Cronje helped in giving inside information to the accused and helped them gain huge profits through placing bets.
Attempt to fix 5th ODI
“From the recorded conversation, it is evident that Hansie Cronje had agreed to fix the score of the match and he had also agreed to fix the individual score of Herschelle Gibbs. It was also agreed that if the result came as agreed, then Sanjeev Chawla will pay $140000 to Hansie Cronje. Though the players forgot about the deal in the heat of the game and did not agree, it can be concluded that a serious attempt was made to fix the match.”
Former BCCI secretary as witness
Delhi Police has also shared a list of 68 witnesses, which includes former BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele, who held the post when the scandal broke out in 2000 and passed away in 2013. Interestingly, Jaywant’s son Ajit Lele is currently serving as the secretary of Baroda Cricket Association.
