1.46 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

Bollywood pads up to bat out IPL 6 spot-fixing links

Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh is escorted by police officials into a car before being produced at a court in Mumbai May 24, 2013. India's Supreme Court dismissed a petition on Tuesday seeking to scrap the remaining matches of the country's lucrative Twenty20 cricket competition amid growing concerns about corruption in the sport. (REUTERS)

Published
By Noel Singh Dias

It was already shocking when S Sreesanth and other members of his team were arrested for fixing the IPL, and it has become even more unbelievable as the film industry is dragged into it. Actor Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa was arrested by Mumbai police in the spot fixing scam. He is the son of veteran actor, Dara Singh.

His lawyer has claimed in Mumbai that the actor and 'Big Boss' contestant has been framed. Advocate Karan Mehta told reporters outside the Esplanade Magistrate’s court in Mumbai -- shortly after Vindu was sent to police custody till May 24 -- that the police has no evidence about his alleged involvement in the scandal.

As the matter gets murkier, not only IPL but also the Hindi film industry's credibility is being questioned. 

Deepika Padukone, who is closely associated with the sporting world by virtue of being the daughter of badminton player Prakash Padukone, says “I think it’s a bit unfair to malign an industry because of a few questionable names. Of course it gives a bad name to the sport too, but just because a few people are following this kind of a malpractice, you can't start doubting everyone. It's a bit unfair on our part.”

For her the spirit of sportsmanship is important. “I’ve said this earlier," she says. "As a sportsman, you have to decide whether you want to shine in the world on behalf of your country or just think of economic gain.

“It's really important that our sportsmen do well and all these scandals are not helping. I have grown up in a generation where I have seen my father and people such as Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, etc. play. Sports then were so pure and clean. To see it go down this route is highly disappointing for me."

Ranbir Kapoor supports her, saying, “It's shameful you know. IPL has become such a great entertainment platform for the country, actually for the world right now.

Then this crops up and some people play dirty. It taints the whole platform. It’s shameful and unfortunate, and angers a lot of fans. There is no justification for it; no reasoning. I hope the people behind this mischief are punished and those playing honestly continue playing. This matter is also not fair to those who play the sport with the right spirit.” 

It's not just fans and fellow sportspeople who feel let down when things like these happen, but also those putting their money on the line.

Preity Zinta, who owns an IPL team, says, “We are as much a victim of this as anyone else. It’s our money on the line. It’s really shameful and unfortunate, so let the authorities get to the crux of the matter and take the right action.” 

With films and cricket being the two deities of the nation, is sad to see how the malpractices of one affect the other.