IPL spot fixing: Chandila sent to 3 days' police custody

A Delhi court Monday sent suspended Rajasthan Royals player Ajit Chandila, arrested in connection with the IPL spot fixing scam, to three days' police custody for interrogation.

Sending Chandila to police custody, Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Kumar Jain also posted for June 22 the bail pleas of the cricketer and five other accused.

"The matter is being investigated under the provision of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The prosecution is to be given full chance to unearth the entire crime. The accused is remanded in 3 days of police custody," said the judge.

Police sought fresh custody of Chandila saying he was required to corroborate evidence collected from other accused after invoking the stringent MCOCA law.

The court also directed the Delhi Police's Special Cell to present Chandila before it on June 20.

The court also deferred the bail pleas of six accused including the cricketer after police told it that some vital confessional statements of the bookies arrested in the case have to be placed on record.

Public prosecutor Rajeev Mohan told the court that confessional statement of arrested bookie Sunil Bhatia is being recorded, while that of Ramesh Vyas, another bookie, has already been recorded.

Besides Chandila, the other accused who moved bail pleas are Vyas, Bhatia, Ashwani Aggarwal, Deepak Kumar, and ex-Ranji player Baburao Yadav.

The prosecutor had sought fresh five days police remand of Chandila saying that initially he was arrested in the case on May 16 and remained in police custody till May 28 after which he was remanded to judicial custody.

MCOCA has been invoked against Chandila on June 3, therefore his custody is required to corroborate the evidence collected after invocation of the stringent penal law, the prosecutor said during the hearing.

Mohan added: "For the purpose of investigating under MCOCA, accused Ajeet Chandila is required. He is found to be one of the main conspirators and his presence is required to unearth the deep rooted conspiracy of the organised crime being operated by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel."

According to police, during investigation, lot of supportive evidence like intercepted voice calls, two mobiles used by him (Chandila) in spot/match fixing and match fixing cash of Rs 20 lakhs. "...he was found receiving money from many bookies, fixers in lieu of spot fixing in the cricket match," said police.

Police further claimed that the bookies who were in direct contact with the underworld have given money to Chandila to fix the players.

Police have opposed the bail pleas of Chandila and other five accused.

Delhi Police May 16 arrested three Rajasthan Royals players -- S. Sreesanth, Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- on spot fixing charges. Subsequently, 25 others were arrested.

The other 21 accused, including Sreesanth and Chavan, have already been granted bail by the court.