Royal Challengers Bangalore Drummer Arrested For Betting

The recent batting scandal that rocked Karnataka Cricket Association has taken another shocking turn with a celebrity drummer also accused of fixing. The Bangalore Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested the drummer as they continue their investigation into the betting and illegal approach of a player in the 2019 Karnataka Premier League.

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26-year old Bhavesh Bafna is the accused drummer. Bafna has entertained crowds in the Indian Premier League on behalf of Royal Challengers Bangalore as well as in the Tamil Nadu Premier League and the Karnataka Premier League (KPL). He was taken into custody on Wednesday after being found guilty of acting as a conduit for bookies in Delhi and Mumbai. He also faced charges of enticing a player in the KPL to give away more than 10 runs in an over. As per Indian Express, Bafna tried to persuade the player by promising him of an IPL contract.

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Bafna’s arrest comes on the heels of that of the owner of KPL team Belagavi Panthers Asfak Ali Thara by CCB police. The authorities found Thara guilty of being involved in an illegal betting racket that was operating during the KPL season in August. The police, however, are yet to detain a Delhi bookie identified as Sanyam. Bafna allegedly approached the player on behalf of the Delhi-based bookie.

“In a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation in the KPL match fixing scandal, an FIR has been registered against two bookies Bhavesh Bafna and Sanyam for trying to fix matches. They approached a Bellary Tuskers bowler to give more than 10 runs per over but the bowler refused,” joint commissioner of police (crime) Sandeep Patil said.

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Police have booked Bafna and Sanyam on the basis of a complaint filed by Bellary Tuskers’ fast-bowler Bhavesh Gulecha. The pacer said that he was approached by his childhood friend Bafna to give away more that 10 runs an over in a match. Gulecha revealed that Bafna offered him an IPL contract and Rs two lakh as advance if he met bookie Sanyam and agreed to a fixing deal.