IPL 6 spot-fixing: Sreesanth confesses, says police

The three tainted cricketers who were arrested on Thursday following allegations of spot-fixing were interrogated today by Delhi Police.

According to latest reports in ToI, the prominent player among the three - S Sreesanth - confessed to Delhi Police.

One of them – Ankeet Chavan – was the first to break down and accepted his role in spot-fixing.

Earlier in the day, Sreesanth had alleged that he was framed because of his association with an alleged bookie named Jiju Janardhan. His lawyers had also insisted he was innocent.

All 14 men arrested in the scam spent Thursday night in police custody.

Meanwhile, police is investigating whether spot-fixing took place in matches involving Rajasthan Royals other than the three matches in which three of its players were allegedly involved.

EARLIER STORY: Dubai fans in shock over Sreesanth's arrest

The The Board Of Control For Cricket In India has suspended the three cricket players - Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan - after they were arrested by Delhi Police on charges of spot fixing. All three play for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.

Meanwhile, the UAE-based Kerala Premier League (KPL) has come out with a statement that they will wait for concrete evidence before deciding to remove former Indian pacer Sreesanth as ambassador.

It is now emerging that apart from tapping conversations from almost 70 phones, it was also believed that police had tapped into BBM and Whatsapp messages of several IPL players and bookies. However, Delhi police official during a press conference said that BBM were not cracked.

Meanwhile, Keralites in Dubai are expressing shock and disbelief following Sreesanth’s arrest along with two other players of the Rajasthan Royals.

“It is a shame. I was shocked to hear the news this morning,” says Paul Joseph, chairman of the KPL. The next edition of the KPL is scheduled to be held in Dubai in November 2013.

Sreesanth has been the brand Ambassador for the KPL and Indian police are suspecting that the Indian betting racket has been fuelled by bookies with links to the Gulf.

Prashanth N a cricket fan in Dubai says the players must not just be suspended but banned for life. “If true it will be a shame for all Keralites. The sport is gaining in popularity in the otherwise football friendly state. Sanju Samson another Rajasthan Royals player is also from Kerala.

“We cannot believe Sreesanth has done this. If true it is really sad. But police should go into all aspects of this case. Many more are involved in the case,” says Biju Krishnan another cricket fan in Dubai.

EARLIER

Former Indian paceman S. Sreesanth and two other players of the Rajasthan Royals Indian Premier League (IPL) team have been arrested by the Delhi Police and charged with spot-fixing in the on-going tournament, Indian media has reported.

Sreesanth and the others, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan, were arrested in Mumbai and will be brought to Delhi to be produced in court. 

Chavan played against Mumbai Indians on Wednesday night in which Rajasthan lost by 14 runs.

The police have also arrested seven bookies.

Police sources said the players have been accused of spot-fixing in different matches this week.

They also said that investigtions have been on for some time into alleged spot-fixing in the cash-rich IPL tournament, the sixth edition of which is being played now.

The Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise co-owned by Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has qualified for the Play-offs.

Raj Kundra, owner of Rajasthan Royals and actress Shilpa Shetty’s husband, tweeted: “Just when IPL was going on so smoothly without controversies, I woke up to the news of three Rajasthan Royal players alleged spot fixing. Investigations are on.”

He continued: “When asked the repeated question is IPL fixed my answer is always IPL teams can’t be fixed but individual players who lack integrity can.”

Kundra also said that team captain Rahul Dravid will be the most hurt if these spot-fixing allegations are proved correct.

Meanwhile, sources are claiming the spot-fixing calls were routed from somewhere in the Gulf.

Former and current players outside India too were upset after hearing the news.

"Another very sad day for cricket!!," tweeted Aaron Finch, who is leading Pune Warriors in the ongoing IPL.

"Match fixing controversy again harming the game we all cherish so much," posted Sunrisers Hyderabad's Australia coach Tom Moody.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said: "Spot Fixing in the IPL... Not the most surprising news I have heard today."

"Sreesanth always in the news for the wrong reasons," said Albie Morkel, member of Chennai Super Kings.

Former Rajasthan Royals coach and captain Shane Warne's initial reaction was of complete shock

"What the hell is this about the Royals in the IPL ? Are the reports True or false?" tweeted Warne.

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