Delhi Police files chargesheet on 13-year-old match-fixing case

Delhi Police today filed a chargesheet in connection with the cricket match-fixing scandal involving former South African captain Hansie Cronje, 13 years after the scandal sent shockwaves throughout the cricketing world.

"This chargesheet has been filed using Sections 120(b) and 420 of the IPC(Indian Penal Code) against those bookies who had compromised South African cricketers. The King's Commission of enquiry had been set up in South Africa in this regard, and it has been found that the prime accused in this case are Indian bookies" Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said here today.

Of the six accused, sources have said that three are out on bail, while two are presently residing in the United States and London. The sixth accused is cricketer Hansie Cronje, who died in a plane crash in 2002. Cronje had initially denied taking bribes, but later admitted taking money from Indian bookmakers to influence matches during South Africa's then tour of that country.

Police named bookmakers and gamblers Rajesh Kalra, Krishan Kumar and Sunil Dara-who are all on bail-and Sanjeev Chawla and Manmohan Khattar who are overseas.

Kumar said Delhi Police would now move court to seek permission to start extradition proceedings against Chawla and Khattar.

The scandal broke when New Delhi Police, working on an unrelated extortion case, tapped a telephone conversation between Cronje and Chawla.

Delhi Police have also alleged that Cronje had convinced three of his teammates, including Herschelle Gibbs, to take part in the deal by offering them a share of the money.