IPL betting: Cops plan to send letter rogatory to quiz Rauf

The Pakistani umpire is strongly suspected in the IPL betting case

Strongly suspecting Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf's role in IPL betting case, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch is planning to initiate the process of getting a letter rogatory (LR) issued to a court in Pakistan to question him, police said today.

According to Crime Branch sources, wanted bookie brothers Sanjay and Pawan Jaipur, who were hiding in Dubai before coming to Mumbai, had not only placed bets during the last IPL season, but also sent gifts to Rauf, the Pakistani umpire who officiated in IPL 6.

"We want to question Rauf to get details of his association with Jaipur brothers, and we have a reason to believe that he had links with IPL betting racket. And we can get Rauf, who is in Pakistan now, through a letter rogatory issued," said senior crime branch official.

A letter rogatory - or a letter of request - is a formal written communication sent by a court in one country to a foreign court requesting judicial assistance. It is the only means by which police can carry out investigations in a foreign country and gather evidence there that is admissible in a domestic court.

The anticipatory bail pleas of Sanjay and Pawan were earlier rejected by the Sessions Court following which the two approached the Bombay High Court. The matter will come up before the court next week.

"Rauf was supposed to collect costly shoes and dress materials from Delhi but he didn't take them after being apparently tipped off. The gifts were sent by Jaipur brothers during the IPL," the officer said.

Crime Branch claimed that Rauf, who left India after his name cropped up in the IPL betting racket, was hand-in-glove with the bookies.

The police said that on Rauf's suggestion, Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh had once placed bets using all his savings, but had lost that money. However, the officer did not reveal in which particular match this had happened.

Chennai Super Kings owner Gurunath Meiyappan, who is son-in-law of Cricket Board President N Srinivasan, and Vindu were among the 20 accused arrested in the case so far.

However, both of them are out on bail now.