IPL 2022: TNPL match fixing probe – A former Tamil Nadu Ranji player, who has also been in IPL rosters, Rajagopal Sathish has alleged that he was offered money to fix matches in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). After he approached BCCI ACSU, a case has been lodged against the accused in Bengaluru. Follow IPL 2022 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Rajagopal Sathish, who played for Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians alleged that an individual named Bunny Anand offered him Rs 40 lakh to fix matches in TNPL 2021. Sathish was playing for Chepauk Super Gillies in TNPL 2021.
IPL 2022: Former IPL & Ranji player lodges police complaint after receiving bribery offer to fix TNPL matches – Check details
After he approached BCCI Anti Corruption and Security Unity (ACSU), he was advised to lodge a formal police complaint in this regard. He lodged an FIR at the Jayanagar police station. The Karnataka police have now lodged a probe as the accused Bunny Anand is believed to be in Bengaluru.
“On January 3, a person named Bunny Anand contacted Satish on Instagram and messaged him luring to pay Rs 40 lakh and told that two players have already agreed to the offer,” B Lokesh, who is with the ACSU, filed the police complaint at Jayanagar police station said in the report.
The BCCI ACSU will be waiting for a full report from the police before taking any action. The ACSU doesn’t have the power to investigate or make arrests or seize. It relies on police to carry out investigations.
IPL 2022: Former IPL & Ranji player lodges police complaint after receiving bribery offer to fix TNPL matches – Check details
“The player approached us and ICC, and informed us that someone had approached him on Instagram. We took details of the case and told our ACU officer to file a police complaint in the matter. We are just a facilitator and now police will look into the case,” BCCI ACSU chief Shabbir Khandwawala told Indian Express.
As InsideSport reported earlier, to take strong steps against match-fixing, ACSU chief Shabbir Khandwawala asked the board to provide the unit with surveillance equipment. The equipment would have been used for surveillance on players, match officials and even board officials. But the BCCI was not comfortable. TNPL was under the scanner for match-fixing in 2019 with the police making multiple arrests in the scandal.
“Yes, it is true that Shabir saab has proposed a great many things. But we are still reviewing the proposal. Some of it has outraged many and some are debatable. So, we will take a call after discussing it with the stakeholders. We also have to take into account the privacy of players and officials,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.
IPL 2022: Former IPL & Ranji player lodges police complaint after receiving bribery offer to fix TNPL matches – Check details
What are ACSU chief’s demands?
- A dedicated and secure Storage Locker to safe keep confidential information and inquiry reports.
- A separate seating should be arranged for the ACSU officials in the BCCI office
- To be able to conduct operations, the ACSU officials would require specialised equipment to capture conversations and activities of ‘fixers’ and other persons of interest.
- ACSU needs to procure: Video Cameras for recording interviews, Audio recorders, Point and Click cameras, Concealed voice recorders, Concealed video recorders, Mobile forensics equipment for downloading and analysing Mobile phone data
- Portable printers — to enable Investigators to conduct interviews and take signed statements from individuals.
- High resolution – Monoculars/Binoculars
IPL 2022: Former IPL & Ranji player lodges police complaint after receiving bribery offer to fix TNPL matches – Check details
Editors pick
