IPL match-fixing case: Sreesanth got real lucky despite crucial evidence proving involvement, says former police commissioner

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi Commissioner Neeraj Kumar who investigated the IPL match-fixing case, reasserted the involvement of pace bowler Sreesanth in the case.

Back then, the special cell of Delhi police arrested Rajasthan Royal players Sreesanth and his co-stars Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan under the command of Neeraj Kumar, an IPS officer with 37 years of service. At the time of the incident, Neeraj Kumar was the serving Delhi police commissioner.

“Despite strong evidence, weak laws against corruption in sports helped Sreesanth go scot-free. Corruption in cricket is not taken seriously in India. Australia and New Zealand have legislation. What surprises me more is even Zimbabwe have special law in this respect.” Neeraj Kumar said.

He blamed the lack of stronger laws to be the biggest hurdle in wiping out corruption from sports.

On May 16, 2013, Sreesanth was arrested along with Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan in the spot-fixing case. Serious charges were scribbled in the charge sheet. He was transferred to Tihar Jail as a prisoner of trial, and also, the BCCI banned him for life.

After years of strong legal battle, Sreesanth was acquitted by the court in the case, with SC also taking away the ban imposed by BCCI.