Bookie Sanjeev Chawla, a key accused in the 2000 match-fixing scandal involving South African cricket superstars, has been extradited from the U.K to India to face trial. The Patiala House district court in Delhi has framed charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy against Chawla, actor Krishan Kumar, and two others in connection with the scandal that tainted cricket over two decades ago, implicating the late South African captain Hansie Cronje.
The court’s 68-page order detailed how Chawla acted as a conduit between bookies and Cronje to fix matches, with the involvement of other accused individuals. The chargesheet filed by Delhi Police in 2013 named these individuals and implicated them in the match-fixing scandal that rocked the cricket world.
The court dismissed arguments that there was no evidence linking Chawla to the crimes, noting his absconding for nearly 20 years and the meticulous extradition proceedings that led to his return to India. Evidence from call transcriptions, witness statements, and hotel staff corroborated the accusations against the accused individuals.
The match-fixing scandal was uncovered by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police during an interception operation related to an extortion case, revealing the involvement of Chawla and others in fixing matches and placing bets. The extradition of Chawla opens the door for a trial to begin, shedding light on one of cricket’s darkest moments and seeking justice for the victims of the cheating and conspiracy that tainted the game.
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Photo credit www.thehindu.com
