The IPL spot-fixing controversy took a dramatic twist with the International Cricket Council (ICC) withdrawing Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf from the Champions Trophy scheduled in England next month.

The sacking of the ICC's elite panel umpire comes a day after Indian media reported Mumbai police sources as saying he was under the scanner for involvement in the IPL spot-fixing controversy.

An ICC statement said, "The decision has been made after media reports on Wednesday indicated that the umpire was under investigation by Mumbai Police."

ICC chief executive David Richardson said, "In the wake of reports that the Mumbai Police are conducting an investigation into Asad Rauf's activities, we feel that it is in Asad's best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the ICC Champions Trophy."

He was one of the umpires in the May 15 match against Mumbai Indians in which Ankeet Chavan allegedly indulged in spot-fixing, Times of India reported on Wednesday.

Rauf had courted controversy last August too when TOI exposed his links with Mumbai model and small-time actress Leena Kapoor who accused the umpire of sexually exploiting her with the promise of marriage.

Rauf first denied the relationship but later admitted to it, especially after the TOI published pictures of him and the model. Kapoor later took back her complaint filed with the Mumbai police.

In IPL 2013, Rauf officiated in 13 matches, the last one being in a game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad on May 19.

In the Champions Trophy, starting in England next month, Rauf was scheduled to officiate in a warm-up match between Australia and West Indies in Cardiff on June 1.

Later, in the tournament group league stage, he was supposed to officiate in two matches in Cardiff, first on June 9 between Sri Lanka and New Zealand and second between West Indies and South Africa.