IPL Under Scanner As Police Investigate KPL Match-Fixing Scam

The Indian cricket fraternity has been once again rocked by the match-fixing scam in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL). The Central Crime Branch is currently investigating the scandal as the league awaits to learn about its future. In the last couple of months, there have been some high profile arrests related to the case.

Earlier, police arrested KPL Bellary team captain CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi. It is alleged that both cricketers were involved in spot-fixing during KPL 2019 finals between Hubli and Bellary. Gautam is a big name in domestic circuit, having also been part of IPL teams – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.

Before the two, cricketer Nishanth Singh Shekhawat was also arrested by the Karnataka police in connection with the KPL spot-fixing case. Shekawat was accused of fixing a KPL match in 2018 between Bangalore and Belgavi team, in which he allegedly played slow and received Rs 5 lakhs for the same.  The police had also arrested Belgavi Panthers team’s owner Ali, Bengaluru Blasters bowling coach Vinu Prasad and batsman Vishwanathan.

IPL to come under investigation too:

As the Central Crime Branch (CCB) continue their investigation in the KPL spot-fixing, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao has said the investigation is now likely to knock on the doors of IPL. The lucrative league has not maintained a clean slate either. In 2013, the league was rocked when three Rajasthan Royals player – S Sreesanth, Ajeet Chandila and Ankit Chavan – were banned for life for spot-fixing.

Later, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings were suspended for two years due to corruption charges. And Bhaskar Rao has said that the IPL could be investigated once again as the KPL investigation is headed towards it. He also expressed his surprise over BCCI’s anti-corruption unit remaining silent over the entire KPL fixing issue.

“The probe in KPL match-fixing is heading towards IPL matches. IPL cannot be insulated from KPL activities. We are surprised at the silence of the anti-corruption unit in the BCCI, despite the new BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly, saying the KPL will be kept under suspension till investigation is complete,” he told The New Indian Express.

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