IPL betting: one more quizzed

Sajid Khan’s name comes up during Jalan’s interrogation

The Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Thane Police Crime Branch on Tuesday questioned Sameer Buddha for over two hours in connection with the Indian Premier League betting racket.

Mr. Buddha and his brother Suhail, a former policeman, are directors of Star Security Pvt Ltd, a private security and investigation agency based in Khar.

Mr. Buddha was summoned for inquiries after the police found out that bookie Sonu Jalan was using a car registered in his name at the time of arrest. Mr. Jalan was the sixth accused to be arrested in the case on May 29. During his interrogation, the police found out that several prominent people were involved in the scam.

Crime Branch sources said that Mr. Buddha reached the AEC office in Thane at around 3 p.m. and the police quizzed him till 5 p.m. While leaving the office, Mr. Buddha said, “I have recorded my statement with the police.”

Pradeep Sharma, Senior Police Inspector, Thane AEC, said, “Mr. Buddha and Mr. Jalan had started a spare parts dealership in Vasai on a 50:50 partnership in 2015. Though the business failed and the dealership shut down, Mr. Jalan continued to use a car that was registered in Mr. Buddha’s name.”

Big names involved

Mr. Sharma said that the probe so far had not revealed any links between Mr. Buddha and the betting racket. Meanwhile, Mr. Jalan was questioned on Tuesday by the CBI in connection with a corruption case registered against former Enforcement Directorate Joint Director J.P. Singh. Mr. Singh was arrested last year for allegedly taking bribes while probing several money laundering cases.

Mr. Singh is alleged to have accepted bribes from people suspected to be involved in the ₹2,000-crore IPL betting scam in 2015. He is also accused of taking bribes in the ₹5,000-crore money laundering case against Afroz Fatta, an alleged hawala operator.

Sources also confirmed that director Sajid Khan’s name had come up during Mr. Jalan’s interrogation. An officer said, “Mr. Jalan claims that Mr. Khan used to place bets through him around seven years ago.”

The AEC has also invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in the case over the alleged involvement of gangster Ravi Pujari in the scam. Mr. Jalan allegedly used Mr. Pujari’s help to put pressure on punters who owed him money. Sources said, film producer Parag Sanghvi, who was also summoned in the case, is likely to appear for inquiries on Wednesday.