A court in Delhi has framed charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy against four accused, including Sanjeev Chawla and actor Krishan Kumar, in connection with the 2000 cricket match-fixing scandal. Chawla, a London-based bookie, is considered the “main conspirator” and played a vital role in fixing matches with late South African captain Hansie Cronje. The court’s 68-page order paves the way for the trial to begin, following the charge sheet filed by Delhi Police in 2013. Chawla, who was extradited to India in February 2020, had been absconding for nearly 20 years.
The court dismissed arguments questioning Chawla’s identity, stating that he was the same person mentioned in the charge sheet. It highlighted Chawla’s close association with Cronje during the tournament and how deals fixed with the South African captain were shared with other accused persons for placing bets. The court also mentioned the alleged involvement of bookie Rajesh Kalra, who had met Cronje in Delhi and maintained constant communication with him.
The charges against the accused were based on the findings of the King’s Commission of Enquiry, which was tasked with investigating match-fixing allegations against South African players. The court’s decision comes over two decades after the scandal rocked the cricketing world, underscoring the long-standing impact of corruption on the sport. The trial is set to shed light on the extent of the conspiracy and the individuals involved in tarnishing the reputation of cricket.
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