TN police arrest key bookie in IPL spot-fixing

CBCID said main accused Sanjay Baffna was secured at Chennai Airport while trying to enter the country

The Tamil Nadu police today said that it has secured Sanjay Baffna, who is alleged to be one of the key persons in the cricket betting from Chennai during the IPL matches.

In a statement issued today, the Crime Branch Crime Investigation Department (CBCID) has said that “main accused Sanjay Baffna has been secured at Chennai Airport, while he was trying to enter the country.”
 
Police sources said that earlier all the airports in the country were alerted about Baffna through a look out notice and today the immigration officials at the Airport had alerted CBCID on his (Baffna’s) arrival from South Africa. 

It may be noted, reports have stated the betting syndicate is under the control of operatives not just from Dubai and Karachi; there is a great amount of influence from bookies in South Africa as well.

The report further stated that South Africa came into the picture in 2011 when nearly 30 bookies -- all of them high profile in nature -- shifted base following a crackdown by the Indian police.
 
The police said Baffna’s role in the betting scam, during the IPL matches, is being examined and decision by the police and a special experts. Further follow up action like his arrest will be taken after interrogation.

 
The anticipatory bail application filed by Baffna in the Madras High Court is coming up for hearing May 29.
 
It may be noted, earlier the police took few of the bookies into their custody including Harish Bajaj, S Virudhachalam also known as S Vedhachalam, Lucky alias Narpath Jain, Pappu alias Praveen Kumar Goutham, Deepak Bajaj, Sunil Bajanlal, Uttam C Jain alian Kitty and Jasraj Jain alias Raja.