Delhi cops to question 'bookie' Vyas for 10 days

A court here Saturday sent Ramesh Vyas, an alleged bookie arrested by Mumbai police in connection with the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot fixing scandal, to 10 days custody of the Delhi Police.

Duty Magistrate Namrita Agarwal allowed Delhi Police to question Vyas till June 18. He was brought from Mumbai and presented in the court in the afternoon.

The investigating officer informed the court that Vyas was a major player in fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim's syndicate, suspected to be controlling the betting books for south India.

Seeking Vyas's custody, Delhi Police told the court that he was in telephone contact with alleged Delhi bookie Ashwini Aggarwal alias Tinku Mandi, as well as with Pakistan- based members of the crime syndicate.

The investigators said they also wanted to know about the role of other members of the alleged betting syndicate, including Vyas' associate Firoz, who were absconding.

Delhi Police Friday got the custody of Vyas in Mumbai.

Vyas was Tuesday granted bail in Mumbai along with some other accused. However, he was not released from custody as Delhi Police issued a production warrant against him the same day, indicating their plan to take him to the national capital.

Mumbai police seized 92 mobile phones and 18 SIM cards from Vyas after he was arrested May 18.

Invoking stringent charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Rajasthan Royals players S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan and 23 others arrested in the case, Delhi Police earlier told the Delhi court that Vyas handled Dawood Ibrahim's betting syndicate in south India.

The investigators told the court that Aggarwal, taken into custody by Delhi Police, handled Dawood's betting syndicate in north India.

Both bookies, who allegedly made calls to the don in Karachi and Dubai, were conveying his commands to the three arrested players, including Sreesanth, police said.