Court takes cognisance of charge sheet in 2000 match fixing

A Delhi court today took cognisance of the charge sheet filed against six persons, including former South African captain Hansie Cronje, by the city police which said he was paid Rs.1.2 crore in two instalments for fixing matches 13 years back.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Bansal took cognisance of the charge sheet filed yesterday by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police in which the names of Cronje's compatriot cricketers Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje have been left out.

The police, in its 93-page charge sheet, has named Cronje, London-based bookie Sanjeev Chawla, Delhi-based bookies Rajesh Kalra and Sunil Dara alias Bittu, Manmohan Khattar, and Kishan Kumar, brother of slain T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar, as accused in the case and has chargesheeted them for offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

The court today issued summonses for October 25 to Kalra, Kumar and Sunil, who are presently out on bail in connection with the case.

"In view of the submissions and record, cognisance of the offences under section 420 (cheating)/120-B (criminal conspiracy) IPC is taken. Issue summons to accused number 1, 2, 3 (Kalra, Kumar and Sunil) with notice to their respective sureties through the investigating officer for next date of hearing," the court said and fixed the matter for October 25.

The court abated the proceedings against Cronje, who was indicted by the Kings Commission of Inquiry in South Africa, in view of his death in a plane crash in 2002.

During the hearing, police told the court that Kalra, Kumar and Sunil are out on bail while two other accused, Chawla and Khattar, are residents of UK and USA respectively and are hiding there.

The investigating officer said that open non-bailable warrants have already been issued against Chawla and Khattar.

Police also told the court that soon the steps would be taken for issuance of process under section 82 (proclamation for person absconding) of the CrPC and extradition proceedings against the two absconding accused.