IPL fixing: Sreesanth, Chavan confess to crime

New Delhi, May 17: It is confession time in Delhi jail. Cricketers S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan today confessed to spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Rajasthan Royals cricketer Ankeet Chavan was the first to accept his role in spot-fixing during questioned by Delhi Police . Later, it was the turn of Sreesanth, while the third player, Ajit Chandila, has not yet accepted the charges.

"Sreesanth has confessed to spot-fixing. He was teary eyed during interrogation," a Delhi Police official said today.

The three were sent to a five-day police custody yesterday after being brought to Delhi from Mumbai, where they were arrested.

The trio were questioned today by officials of Delhi Police Special Cell. Besides the three cricketers, Delhi Police have also arrested 11 bookies for alleged spot-fixing.

Earlier,, Ankeet Chavan, has accepted that he made a mistake. Chavan said that he had done a big mistake by falling into the trap of booking and relenting to their allurement.

Reportedly, Chavan was reluctant in the beginning but could not resist the temptation as the bookies kept on increasing the inducement.

The Delhi Police is also investigating whether spot-fixing took place in anyother matches involving Rajasthan Royals in the T20 League.

So far concrete evidence has emerged only in three matches on May five, nine and 15 and three players -- Sreeshant, Ajit Chandela and Ankeet Chavan -- were arrested, besides 11 bookies.

It has also come to light that Amit Singh, one of the bookies arrested, had played for Rajasthan Royals in the previous T20 season.

A senior police official said telephone conversations have indications about spot-fixing in other matches but the investigators have not been able to concretely prove that as of now.

"We are collecting evidence," the official said, adding role of other players have not come to light. He said, however, the police are not ruling out any possibility as of now as investigations are still on.

Sreesanth and two other bowlers were arrested in a post-midnight operation in Mumbai on Thursday by the Delhi Police for spot-fixing IPL matches for payments of upto Rs. 60 lakhs.

The arrested cricketers and the bookies were remanded in police custody for five days by a Delhi court on Thursday for questioning in connection with the case.

Suspended by Air India

Meanwhile, the state-run airlines Air India had decided to suspend Rajasthan Royals players Ankeet Chavan & Ajit Chandila. Both were employed by Air India under sports quota. While Chandila represents Air India in various club and corporate tournaments in Delhi, Chavan represents Air India (Mumbai) in tournaments like Times Shield and Kanga League.

"As soon as any of our staff is arrested by the police, they are deemed to be suspended with immediate effect," a official said.

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