The instructions were simple and clear — "Put more water on (Green Park) pitch to make it a low-scoring game."
An alleged bookie — Ramesh Nayan Shah — told a local official in Kanpur to ensure that the Green Park pitch produces a low-scoring game between Delhi Daredevils and Gujarat Lions on Wednesday night. The bets were accepted and a signal was passed on to a leading bookie, Bunty, in Ajmer regarding the deal.
However, the instructions were not carried out due to interception by police and Anti Corruption Unit of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the match eventually turned out to be a high-scoring one, where Delhi chased down Gujarat's total of 195 with two balls to spare.
According to the authorities, the bookies were carrying out their 'business' in room No. 1733 of the Hotel Landmark where the two teams were staying.
The room was booked in the name of Shah by an insider in the Green Park stadium Ramesh Kumar, who had the contract to put up hoardings inside the stadium.
Due to the nature of his work, Ramesh had access to all the enclosures of the stadium and was apparently clicking pictures of pitch and other areas and passing it on to Shah via his smartphone.
Kanpur police arrested all the three alleged bookies — Shah (a businessman from Thane), contractor Ramesh (Chunnigunj, Kanpur) and Vikas Chauhan (Pukhrayan, Kanpur Dehat) — and Rs 40 lakh was recovered from them.
"A diary has also been found from Shah along with cash and two mobiles. There are initials in the diary that may point towards the involvement of few players. But that can only be revealed after investigation," said an insider.
"Shah's job was to pass on the information to Bunty and then take bets as per his advise. Bunty used to pay him the commission after every game," said a source.
However, a senior BCCI official denied having knowledge of "involvement of any player".
ACU chief Neeraj Kumar, former Delhi Police commissioner, was also present on the spot during the operation.
"ACU was keeping an eye on the bookies for several days. We had certain leads which we're following at different centres," said Kumar.
A case has been registered against the three men with Kotwali police in Kanpur. The three were sent to jail after they were produced in a court.
Sealed envelop in SC custody
This is not the first time a betting scandal has been unearthed in cities across India. During 2013 IPL spot-fixing investigation, Chennai Super Kings' co-owner Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested by Mumbai police for placing bets on his own team.
Supreme Court ordered an investigation by Justice Mukul Mudgal. And investigator BB Mishra (IPS officer) submitted a 200-page report in the SC along with a list of 13 players and administrators, who were allegedly involved in the betting and spot fixing.
DNA then reported how some of the leading players of Team India along with BCCI officials were allegedly named in the list submitted to SC.
"How could these bookies stay in the same hotel and on the same floor where teams are put up? It seems that BCCI and cricketers have not learnt their lessons. Unless that sealed envelop is made public by our Hon'ble Supreme Court, the cricket will not be cleaned up," said former India cricketer Surender Khanna.
"Few names those was in circulation during investigation then in 2013, are still part of many IPL sides," said Khanna.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "DD-GL")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}