IPL spot-fixing scandal: Spot relief for Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila
26 July 2015 8:27 AM IST
Delhi court dropped all charges against the three cricketers
Ajit Chandila (left) and Ankeet Chavan strike a pose outside the Patiala House Courts in New Delhi on Saturday. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: A series of tweets with photographs of various deities adorned pacer S. Sreesanth’s Twitter handle, as a Delhi court dropped all charges against the three cricketers — Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila being the other two - in the 2013 Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal.
“I want my daughter to know me as a cricketer and not a terrorist when she googles my name,” said Sreesanth here. “My daughter is three months old. When she grows up and googles my name, I want her to know me as a cricketer and not a terrorist.
“When I saw my photograph being flashed alongside Dawood Ibrahim, I was shocked. I wondered what have I done to myself to deserve this,” an emotional Sreesanth said as his two-year ordeal ended.
Despite the court’s order, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is yet to uplift the ban on the bowling trio. But on the day, the cricketers heaved a sigh of relief.
“I am very happy at the moment and hope that I begin training soon,” Sreesanth said here on Saturday.
“I hope to get permission from the BCCI to start using the training facilities soon, so that I can get fit and get into the selection process. God has been extremely kind.”
He added: “I am born to play cricket. I am a cricketer first. The BCCI has been very supportive all through. T.C. Mathew Sir in Kerala had told me that you finish this and we will take it from there.
“The worst that can happen to a cricketer is stay behind the National Stadium and not been able to use it. I went through a lot of things but it is past now. I would love to be able to run there. I just couldn’t control my tears.”
Like Sreesanth, Chavan and Chandila echoed the view and said that they “cannot wait to return to the field”. All three had to spend time in jail during the course of the investigation. Sreesanth and Chavan are currently serving life bans imposed by the BCCI after the scandal shook the IPL, while Chandila’s hearing is still on.
“So far, I just know that I have been given a discharge and now I am looking forward to play cricket. So let’s see how it goes. “I am taking it step by step. It was tough for me as a cricketer. It was a tough time but I got through with support from family and friends. I am sure I will be back to cricket again,” said Chavan.
Chandila, meanwhile, said he felt relieved. “I believed in the judiciary and in God. Now, I trust that the BCCI will give me a chance to play again. I will discuss it with my lawyer... that what will be my next step. It was the worst time of my life but I had faith in the judiciary. My family was with me. They told me that things will fall into place. After two years, now I will be able to sleep peacefully,” he said.
Not enough evidence
With the absence of a specific criminal law to deal with spot-fixing in India, the cricketers were chargesheeted for offences under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the MCOCA. The court, however, said there was not enough evidence for charges to be framed under the MCOCA, a special law passed by the Maharashtra state government to tackle organised crime syndicates and terrorism.
How it unfolded
May 16, 2013: Rajasthan Royals players — S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan — arrested by Delhi Police.
May 28: IPL Governing Council sets up Inquiry Committee to probe the case.
June 2: BCCI president N. Srinivasan relinquishes BCCI duties temporarily
June 11: Sreesanth and Chavan granted bail.
July 30: Delhi police files charge sheet, naming Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel as persons who have been controlling the fixing and betting market in cricket in India
September 9: Ajit Chandila and others granted bail by a Delhi court
May 31, 2014: Court orders property attachment of Dawood and others.
September 30: Court declares Dawood, Chhota Shakeel and one other as proclaimed offenders.
May 23, 2015: Court reserves order on framing of charges in the case.
July 25: All 36 accused discharged in the case.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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