Separate probes into IPL spot-fixing not creating hurdles: SC

The Supreme Court today said it was not convinced that separate probes by Mumbai and Delhi police into IPL spot-fixing scandal were creating hurdles in the investigation that has "wide ramifications".

"So far, you (petitioner) have not been able to satisfy us that the separate investigation (by Mumbai and Delhi police) is creating trouble," a bench of justices Gyan Sudha Misra and Madan B Lokur said.

The court was hearing a PIL seeking transfer of probe into the IPL spot-fixing scandal by Delhi and Mumbai police to CBI to unearth larger conspiracy and insulate the investigation from highly influential persons and politicians.

The PIL sought CBI probe to ensure proper co-ordination as the guilty may go scot free due to "mismanagement and lack of co-ordination between different police agencies."

The bench, which did not issue notice, asked Sharmila Ghuge, an educationist in a Mumbai law college who moved the court, to file an additional affidavit after observing the probe being carried out by the police agencies.

"The investigation has got wide ramifications. You cannot go on monitoring it on daily or rather, hourly basis. Give them some time to investigate," the bench said and fixed the matter for hearing on July 23.

The PIL has also sought a direction to the CBI to probe allegations of spot fixing, match fixing and betting pertaining to the cricket matches of IPL-6 or its earlier versions.

CBI should unearth the huge racket behind the illegalities and take the strongest possible action against all masterminds behind such acts, it said.

The petition said for a "fair and proper" investigation, the cases registered by both the state police should be probed by CBI, otherwise there are chances that the probe can be hampered by "highly influential persons and politicians".

"It is pertinent to mention here that there is every chance that the highly influential persons and politicians are involved in the said illegality and therefore there is every likelihood that by exercising their influence they will try to hamper investigation into the said offence and they will naturally overpower the local police of Mumbai and Delhi.

"Therefore, there is a need that the present offence should be investigated by CBI as this is an interstate crime and spread across the entire country...," the PIL said.
The PIL sought direction for taking suitable legal action against all the persons, "high or mighty found involved in the said illegalities, which have put the image of the entire nation as well as game of cricket at stake, for ulterior motives".

In the IPL spot-fixing case being probed by Delhi Police, 26 people, including Indian pacer Sreesanth and Rajasthan Royals players Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan and several bookies were arrested.

So far, Mumbai police has arrested actor Vindoo Dara Singh and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) principal Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI President N Srinivasan who has stepped aside, and six bookies in the case. All of them were granted bail by a Mumbai court today.

The petition has arrayed Centre, Maharashtra and Delhi governments, their police agencies, CBI and BCCI as parties in the plea.