Sreesanth & 2 other cricketers arrested for IPL spot fixing

Mumbai, May 16: Cricketer S Sreesanth and two other cricketers were arrested by the special cell of the Delhi Police in Mumbai on Thursday on charges of spot-fixing in the ongoing Indian Premier League. Seven bookies were also arrested in this connection.

Sreesanth and the two others, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, play for Rajasthan Royals. Team CEO Raghu Iyer said action will be taken if the charges are proved to be true. He said the management will co-operate with the investigation. Co-owner of the franchise Shilpa Shetty also said the same, adding that her team will have zero tolerance for anything done against the spirit of the game.

The special cell was tapping phones of several cricketers and bookies and incriminating evidence was found against the three accused. It was said that the spot fixing was being done in matches against Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab.

Sreesath was arrested from his friend's place while the two other players were arrested from the team hotel in Mumbai. The bookies were arrested from Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. A case was filed against Chavan and Chandila at Marine Drive Police Station under Sections 420 (for cheating) and 120(b)(for conspiracy) of the IPC. Details of the case registered against Sreesanth were yet to be known.

More players could be under scanner for spot-fixing charges, sources said. Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said more arrests are likely to be made in connection with spot-fixing.

Cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad slammed weak law for the repeated occurrence of such incidents., He said he had raised the issue time and again but nothing took place. He said the law needs to be strengthened to curb such incidents. Banning cricketers won't help, he said.

Another former cricketer Atul Wassan said the anti-corruption unit of the ICC has been active for sometime but yet nothing could be done to stop such incidents.

Spot-fixing has been a major issue in contemporary cricket and authorities across the world have had a harrowing time to get the game rid of the shadow of bookies and betting and fixing.

Sreesanth, 2 others held for spot fixing

Cricketer S Sreesanth and two other cricketers were arrested by the special cell of the Delhi Police in Mumbai on Thursday on charges of spot-fixing in the ongoing Indian Premier League. Seven bookies were also arrested in this connection.

Sreesanth, 2 others held for spot fixing

Rajasthan Royals' S Sreesanth and other players during a practice session

Sreesanth, 2 others held for spot fixing

Rajasthan Royals bowler Sreesanth celebrate with teammates after taking wicket of Kings XI Punjab's

Sreesanth, 2 others held for spot fixing

Miss Earth 2011 & Miss Equador(Goodwill Ambassador) Olga Alava Mercedes Vargas with cricketer S Sreesanth and former athlete Reeth Abraham

Sreesanth, 2 others held for spot fixing

Indian fast bowler Sreesanth comes out of Lord Venkateshwara Temple after tonsuring his head in Tirumala

Sreesanth, 2 others held for spot fixing

Cricketer Sreesanth with a boy at the Perinthalmanna cricket stadium

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