Spot fixing: Bollywood, Telugu film industry links probed

Mumbai, May 20: Mumbai police on Monday grilled a casting director who sent photographs of models to S Sreesanth and has summoned a Telugu film producer having business links with the tainted India pacer for questioning in connection with its probe into the

spot-fixing scandal.

Sources in the Crime Branch, which is investigating the case, said Sreesanth's e-mail account had dozens of photographs of models sent by the casting director over the past few months on request.

In some of those, he was found "moving very closely" with the models, they said, adding the cricketer's laptop also had photographs of some foreigners, who could be cheerleaders.

"The director claimed that Sreesanth wanted the photographs of the models for the purpose of selecting them for advertisements to promote his company S36, which is into supplying mineral water, apparels and sports goods," a Crime Branch officer told PTI.

According to police, a Telugu film producer, who is believed to be in partnership with Sreesanth in the S36, has also been summoned.

"In a day or two, the producer will be questioned," the officer added.

He said a person from Tamarind Tours and Travels through which the cricketer booked two rooms in 5 star Sofitel hotel in suburban Bandra was also questioned.

Sources said they are also verifying if the casting director's e-mails containing photos of the models were also sent to other cricketers.

On May 16, Mumbai Crime Branch sleuths had searched the rooms occupied by Sreesanth and Jiju Janardan, his close friend and bookie arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi police in connection with the spot-fixing scandal.

The police have also obtained CCTV footages which show a number of people coming in and leaving the rooms occupied by Sreesanth and Jiju.

The Special Cell of Delhi police had arrested Sreesanth, his Rajasthan Royals teammates -- Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- and Jiju on May 15 for allegedly indulging in spot-fixing in at least three IPL matches as per arrangements with bookies with underworld connections abroad.

Apart from electronic devices, Rs 72,000 cash, data card and diaries with entries in English and Malayalam, which appeared to be in Sreesanth's handwriting, were also seized.

The search of Jiju's room yielded an ipad, a mobile phone and some other belongings.

Police also claimed to have recovered condoms from the cricketer's room.

PTI