New Delhi:
Neeraj Kumar, the Delhi police chief and his colleagues are holding a press conference to explain the modus-operandi used by the three IPL players involved in spot fixing.
Earlier today, three Rajasthan Royal players including Kerala pacer Sreesanth were arrested for spot-fixing in the current IPL season.
Highlights of the press conference. - Arrested 3 Rajasthan Royals players and 11 bookies and their assistants in a scam of spot fixing.
- Modus operandi adopted was that there was an agreement between bookies and players that in a certain over they would give away minimum amount of runs.
- Bookies also gave them directions that they have to indicate that they are ready to give away those many runs.
- These indications were in different forms.. take out locket from shirt, take out shirts and vests that you're wearing, put towel into trousers etc etc.
- They had to deliver the over and give away pre-determined number of runs.
- First instance came to light during Match held in Jaipur between Pune Warriors India and Rajasthan Royals on May 5.
- Ajit Chandila gave away 14 runs in his second spell.
- Chandila forgot to give the predecided sign, hence bookies couldn't bet. This led to arguments and demand for return of the money.
- 20 lakhs were given in advance that was to be given to Chandila.
- Second match in which spot fixing took place was on May 9, in Mohali. It was between the Rajasthan Royals vs KXIP.
- Sreesanth would give the signal by putting a towel in his trousers.
- He gave bookies time to bet by warming up and then went on to give 13 runs.
- Have records of call where it was decided that Sreesanth would give 14 or more runs in the second over of his spell.
- He would put a towel in his pants as a signal.
- Third match where spot fixing was done was the match held last night. Rajasthan Royal vs Mumbai Indians.
- Ajit Chandila was not playing, he was acting as go between Ankeet Chavan and bookies.
- Ankeet was asked to give 14 or more runs in the second over of his spell and promised Rs 60 lakh for that.
- After Ankeet Chavan's over there was a conversation between Ajit Chandila and the bookie. It was decided whatever was to be given to Ankeet Chavan would go through Chandila.
- We had teams at the venues as players could give signals during ad breaks as well.
- Sreesanth was arrested from Carter Road in Mumbai.
- Ajit Chandila was arrested from the Inter-Continental hotel in Mumbai.
- Ankeet Chavan arrested from Hotel Trident.
- 2 bookies arrested from Inter-Continental.
- We had information that Mumbai underworld is contacting bookies and players for fixing.
- No evidence of the involvement of Australian player Shaun Tait.
- We don't know who started the whole thing but from experience I can say that bookies spot talented and vulnerable people who will compromise.
- It is a coincidence that players of the same team have come under our radar, but we cannot say that it is not happening in other teams.
- We were the ones who informed the IPL administration about the fixing. We did not get any info from the IPL or the BCCI.
- Our probe will show whether we need to contact Enforcement Directorate (ED) or other agencies.
- We have been tracking this case since April and since then only these three players came under our radar.
- Further arrests likely to be only bookies. No more cricketers.
- Mastermind of this is sitting abroad.
- Batsmen of opponent teams ruled out as no evidence found against them.