NEW DELHI: In the wake of shocking allegations of spot-fixing in IPL, a new standalone law to deal with such “dishonest practices” in all kinds of sports will be enacted soon.

Announcing this in New Delhi on Saturday, Law Minister Kapil Sibal said the new law was favoured by Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati as activities like match-fixing or spot-fixing are not covered under the present laws.

He told a press conference that the “dishonest practices like match-fixing and spot-fixing” need to be dealt with in a “holistic manner” and the new law was favoured instead of mere amendments to the Indian Penal Code.

“The first draft of the new law will be ready in three to four days,” he said, adding it will then be sent to the Sports Ministry for further consultations and opinions of experts.

The new law will be as broad-based as possible and cover not only cricket but all kinds of sports. However, it will not have retrospective effect.

In the fresh legislation, there will be a definition of “dishonest practices” and will include any gesture or act which can change the course or outcome of a match or a tournament.

It will deal with corporates, bookies, criminals besides the players, including international players, he said.

Expressing confidence about the early enactment of the new law, Sibal said the Opposition is on board.

In this context, he mentioned that the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley met him on Friday and favoured such a law, saying States would not be able to check such activities which have national and international dimensions. — PTI

MUMBAI: Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI chief N. Srinivasan, used to place “huge bets” on IPL matches and was even divulging team’s strategy to bookies, the Mumbai Police on Saturday claimed before a court which remanded him in police custody till May 29.

Metropolitan Magistrate M.P. Paaghe handed over Meiyappan’s custody to the crime branch after it said his further custodial interrogation was needed to unravel the the alleged IPL betting racket.

In its remand application, the police said Meiyappan, the Team Principal of the Chennai franchise who was arrested by Friday night, used to place “huge bets” on IPL matches and was even divulging team’s strategy to bookies.

The remand application said the crime branch intended to investigate Meiyappan’s relation with controversial Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf, who was allegedly in touch with bookies.

One of the bookies was alleged to have left a “parcel” with actor Vindoo Dara Singh, also arrested in the case, to be handed over to Rauf, who by that time had left India. Vindoo had allegedly facilitated the escape of the bookie to Dubai.

The crime branch application said it also wanted to find out the financial arrangement between Singh and Meiyappan.

The two, it said, exchanged phone calls when IPL matches were underway.

“Guru made calls to Vindoo when matches were underway. Vindoo then called bookies with information,” it said.

Also, police said that they needed to seize four mobile phones used by Meiyappan. Citing these reasons, public prosecutor Wajid Shaikh sought seven days’ police remand of the 35-year-old CSK “honorary member”.

Opposing the prosecution’s prayer, defence counsel Abad Ponda described as “illegal” Meiyappan’s arrest, saying if a person appears before the police pursuant to summons, he cannot be arrested.

“Moreover, there is no wrongful gain and nobody was cheated. In fact, Gurunath lost money,” he said.

He also said the remand application was silent about Meiyappan’s involvement in spot-fixing or match-fixing.

However, the court granted Mumbai crime branch Meiyappan’s remand till May 29 for further questioning.

Meiyappan was arrested by the crime branch after intense grilling for several hours that continued till early Saturday.

Police officials said he was “evasive” and “non-cooperative” during questioning.

“He was not as cooperative as we expected him to be. He was evasive about several questions,” police officials told PTI on Saturday morning.

The crime branch is probing the betting scandal following a nation-wide crackdown on bookies in the wake of arrest of three Rajasthan Royals players including India pacer S. Sreesanth for spot-fixing IPL matches. — PTI

MUMBAI: BCCI President N.Srinivasan remained defiant on Saturday rejecting demands for his resignation but moves are said to be afoot to oust him in the wake of arrest of his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan on betting charges even as Sunday’s IPL final involving the team may be gone ahead with.

Arriving in Mumbai today, he made it clear that he has no intention of resigning as he has done nothing wrong.

“I can’t be bulldozed or railroaded into resigning. Some sources are trying (to put) pressure now. There is no question of it (resigning),” Srinivasan told reporters outside the Mumbai airport.

The 68-year-old cricket board chief, who has been facing mounting pressure to quit, said BCCI would follow strictly all its rules and law will take its course.

However, sources in the BCCI say that a section of the Board may be grouping up against the beleaguered chief and seek his suspension if not immediate removal following the embarrassing arrest of his son-in-law by Mumbai Police on charges of betting on IPL games.

Last night’s arrest and a litany of accusations of conflict of interest against  Srinivasan over the years have pushed him to a corner though he is defiant despite the latest developments.

The move may gather steam after the IPL final in Kolkata on Sunday where the BCCI officials could meet informally to discuss the situation. They may also talk to Mr. Srinivasan who is expected in Kolkata in a bid to persuade him to choose an honourable exit route.

The term of Srinivasan ends in September this year and under an amended rule he can continue till next year September. But under the present circumstances, such a scenario looks far from remote.

Meanwhile, Gurunath’s arrest has raised questions over the continuance of Chennai Super Kings but as yet there seems to be no threat to the team playing the final tomorrow. — PTI

LONDON: Counter-terrorism police are questioning a 'friend' of Michael Adebolajo, one of two men suspected of the savage killing of a British soldier.

Abu Nusaybah was arrested following a BBC interview in which he said Adebolajo had changed after returning from a visit to Kenya, where he claimed he had been physically and sexually abused in detention.

The BBC said Nusaybah was arrested by police outside its studios on Friday night immediately after recording the interview. Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 31-year-old man was arrested.

Nusaybah told the BBC that Adebolajo had been detained, questioned and abused by security forces in Kenya during a trip there last year. Nusaybah also claimed the UK's security services tried to recruit Adebolajo after he returned to Britain. — AP