Headlines
IPL spot-fixing: Court drops charges against Sreesanth, 35 others
New Delhi, July 25
A court here on Saturday
dropped charges against cricketer S. Sreesanth and 35 other accused in
the 2013 Indian Premier League spot-fixing case. The BCCI, however, said
its decision regarding a life ban on the former pace bowler, shall
remain unaltered.
Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna
discharged cricketers Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, and 33
others. All 36 accused were out on bail.
Delhi Police
chargesheeted them for cheating and conspiracy under various sections of
the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the stringent Maharashtra
Control of Organised Crime Act.
The court announced its order in a jam packed room -- full of lawyers, journalists and other people.
Soon after the court ordered that all accused were discharged, Sreesanth broke down.
Welcoming
the verdict, Sreesanth told reporters that he had faith in the
judiciary and believed that he will be released in the case.
He thanked god and referred to Saturday as the best day of his life when he could walk away freely.
Sreesanth hoped that he could now return to cricket.
However,
the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a press statement
said the decision of the board based on its independent disciplinary
action, shall remain unaltered.
"Any disciplinary proceeding or
decision taken by the BCCI is independent to any criminal proceeding and
has no bearing," the BCCI said.
In September 2013, the
disciplinary committee of the board banned Sreesanth and Chavan for life
for their involvement in spot-fixing during certain matches of the IPL
2013.
On May 16, 2013, Rajasthan Royals players Sreesanth,
Chandila and Chavan were arrested by Delhi Police for alleged
spot-fixing in the IPL.
On June 10, 2013, Sreesanth and Chavan were granted bail while Chandila walked out of jail on September 9, 2013.
Delhi
Police filed a chargesheet on July 30, 2013, alleging that underworld
don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel were behind the
spot-fixing scandal.
The formal set of charges, running into
6,000 pages, named Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan, among other 42
accused, in the scandal related to the IPL-6 held in 2013.
Six
accused, including Dawood and Shakeel, are on the run. Dawood and
Shakeel have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case after police
completed proceedings of their property attachment.
Relieved
after the court's decision, Chandila said the period following the
spot-fixing scandal was "the worst part" of his life.
Hoping that
he will get back to cricket again, Chandila said it was a tough time
but with support from his family and friends, he survived.
Relatives and well-wishers present in the court room welcomed the decision with joy.
Meanwhile,
Delhi Police moved a last-minute plea to conduct further investigation
in the case citing that the recently published Justice Lodha Commission
report has brought "new evidence".
Former India skipper Sourav
Ganguly said the BCCI should not have a problem with Sreesanth making a
comeback, now that the bowler has been cleared of all charges. However,
Ganguly chose to refrain from commenting on the legal order.
Kerala Ranji Trophy team senior coach P. Balachandran said Sreesanth will be accepted "with open arms".
"I
cannot say about any technical hitches, but the moment the BCCI lifts
the ban, we will accept him with open arms," said Balachandran, a former
Kerala Ranji captain.
Sreesanth's parents wept tears of joy as TV channels announced that their son was exonerated of all charges.
A
beaming Sreesanth told reporters soon after coming out of the court: "I
want to play cricket again and I wish that the BCCI gives me permission
to use the facility to get fit again. I went through a lot of troubles.
I am just waiting to bowl those outswingers."
"Thanks to all, and this is a reply to all those who made fun of me," he said.
"Thanks
to all and my wife and our child came as an angel. I just want to start
again and am just waiting to run on the ground," he said.
BCCI
vice president and Kerala Cricket Association president T.C. Mathew
described the news as "the best news to have come" and the KCA will ask
the BCCI to revoke the life ban.
Sreesanth's cricketing career took a nosedive after he was arrested.
Only
the second Keralite to represent India in international cricket,
Sreesanth played in 27 Tests (87 wickets), 53 ODIs (75) and 10 T20Is (7
wickets).