An IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre has sought a multi-agency investigation into the Indian Premier League betting scandal to unravel the larger conspiracy and bring out the names of the key players allegedly involved in the scam.
Accusing the State Crime Branch CID, which is investigating the case, of being “misled” by vested interests, he said the scam involved large money transactions through unconventional means, which exposed the vulnerability of the system.
He said there was a lack of coordination among various agencies and suggested that the National Investigation Agency lead a joint investigation.
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In his affidavit to the Justice Mudgal Committee, constituted by the Supreme Court to probe allegations of betting and match fixing in the IPL, Superintendent of Police G. Sampath Kumar said he had reasons and evidence to infer that the CBCID was not trying to uncover the masterminds involved in match fixing as the investigation was stalled and misled by vested interests.
The CBCID has accused Mr. Kumar of taking several lakhs of rupees from bookies and is likely to charge-sheet him in a separate case. Referring to this case, he said it was registered in violation of the agency’s charter of duties and guidelines.
Kitty alias Utham Jain, a bookie who surrendered before ‘Q’ Branch CID officers, revealed some crucial inputs, including those pertaining to the fixing of a match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Kitty’s vital evidence was overlooked by the CBCID, and the investigation focused on betting, leaving out match-fixing and the larger conspiracy.
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Mr. Kumar said he shared Kitty’s interrogation details with the officials concerned and briefed the CBCID. “I deposed before the Mudgal Committee in Bangalore after obtaining permission from the Director-General of Police. While the ‘Q’ Branch interrogated Kitty, I have no idea whether the CBCID inquired him or not…”
However, CBCID Director-General N.P. Singh said the agency had not received any report on Kitty’s interrogation from the ‘Q’ Branch CID. But details of the bookie’s interrogation by the CBCID were shared with the Mudgal Committee, he said.