Cops to respond on Sreesanth's plea for FIR copy

A court here Saturday issued notice to the Delhi Police on a plea by cricketer S. Sreesanth, arrested for alleged spot fixing in IPL cricket matches, seeking a copy of the first information report (FIR) registered against him.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar Sharma sought a response from the investigating officer (IO) by May 20 on the plea of the cricketer, who was arrested Thursday.

The court allowed the defence lawyers of the Sreesanth, who is in police custody, to inspect a copy of the FIR.

Sreesanth, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and his colleagues Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan and 11 bookies were Thursday sent to police custody till May 21.

Sreesanth's advocate Deepak Prakash told the court that the accused should be told about the grounds of arrest, adding that he was an international-level player and had no reasons to get involved in spot fixing.

The accused were arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from the national capital region (NCR), Mumbai and Ahmedabad in connection with spot fixing.

Police earlier sought seven days custody of the 14 accused for unearthing the entire conspiracy and the money laundering involved in the racket.

All the accused were charged with penal provisions for cheating - which carry a maximum punishment of seven years - and criminal conspiracy - which carry a minimum jail term of two years.

Delhi Police arrested the three players in a post-midnight operation in Mumbai May 16 for spot fixing in IPL matches for payments of upto Rs.60 lakh just for giving away a pre-determined number of runs in an over.

The cricketers had indulged in spot-fixing in at least three IPL matches as per arrangements with bookies who have underworld connections abroad, police said.