Spot fixing: Sreesanth can get life term, say police

New Delhi, May 22: The Delhi Police has said that the spot-fixing scandal three cricketers of Rajasthan Royals , including a national player, could be just the tip of the iceberg, adding that it was investigating not just

but also the possibility of match fixing in the Indian Premier League (

).

According to the police, the arrested bookies told them that fixing was done at three levels: on the result of the match, on a session and on fixing spots.

Speaking before a court here on Tuesday, the public prosecutor said that it was an extremely organized racket and is spread across the nation. He said Jiju Janardhan, a close aide of Sreesanth, channelised money through hawala route and also that several new names have cropped up in the case and the details will be submitted to the court in a confidential manner on Wednesday.

The police also said that Sreesanth and two other players, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, could face life terms if charges of spot fixing against them are proved. The possibility came up after the Delhi Police charged them for criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code.

Charges under Section 409 are being invoked on grounds that the cricketers flouted the "exclusive tripartite agreement" between the BCCI, Rajasthan Royals and the player. The agreement has a specific anti-corruption provision.

The police added the criminal breach of trust to the original case registered under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) after receiving complaint from the Royals on Monday that the players had broken the team's trust. While Section 420 carries a maximum punishment of seven years' jail, Section 409 provides life term as the maximum punishment.

The IPL scandal's first link with Bollywood was nailed on Tuesday after Vindoo Dara Singh, son of late wrestler-actor Dara Singh, was arrested in connection with the scandal.

OneIndia News