IPL 2021: Two people suspected of betting-related activities arrested in New Delhi

Two individuals suspected of being involved in cricket betting-related activities during the IPL 2021 were arrested in New Delhi. The two people reportedly used fake ID and accreditation to gain access to the ground. The IPL 2021 was suspended on Tuesday, a day after positive Covid-19 cases started to affect the tournament.

The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) chief Shabir Hussein Shekhadam Khandwawala gave details to PTI on the nature of the crime.

“One of my ACU officers caught a person and handed over the details to Delhi Police. While that particular offender managed to flee leaving behind his two mobile phones, ACU lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police,” Hussein told PTI on Wednesday.

“We are thankful to Delhi Police that in a separate incident they caught two other persons from the Kotla on ACU tip-off.

“So on two separate days, these people managed to get access to Kotla. The one who fled came in the garb of a cleaner. However, we have all his details as he was employed for the tournament. His Aadhar Card details have been handed over to Delhi Police,” Hussein said. “I am confident that he will be nabbed in a day or two. He is a small fry working for a couple of hundred or some thousand bucks may be.”

Evening Delhi match in IPL 2021 compromised?

The man who fled came under suspicion when he was spotted on the phone while alone in a deserted area.

“He was standing (inside Feroz Shah Kotla premises) in a secluded area all by himself and so one of our officers approached and asked him: ‘What are you doing here?’ He said: “Main apne girlfriend se baat kar raha hoon” [I am talking to my girlfriend].

“My officer then asked him to dial the number he was talking to and then asked him to hand over the phones. Just when he was going through the contents of his phone, the guy fled from the spot,” Hussein added.

“It was one of the evening matches in Delhi. He was wearing an ID card. Also what raised suspicion was he had two mobiles.

“The information he may be supplying could be to someone more influential among bookmakers, and so we needed to inform the Delhi Police. Delhi Police has responded positively and thus next instance two people were arrested.”