Former bookie reveals details of match-fixing scandal between India and South Africa

Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar was a relatively lesser known man in the country. However, when one reveals the fact that he was one of those investigating the India and South Africa match-fixing scandal in 2000. This saw the likes of Ajay Jadeja, Mohammad Azharuddin, and even Hansie Cronje implicated and subsequently banned.

However, reports from London are currently revealing that Sanjay Chawla, the ringmaster of sorts in the scandal has been nabbed by the local police. In spite of being retired at the moment, it seems clear this is a bust when it comes to Neeraj Kumar as well. Speaking about it, Kumar revealed a few details that had been lost in the sands of time.

“When he (Chawla) gets interrogated, we might know some unknown details. We could never arrest him as he had fled the country when the investigation had started.”

“The big thing about it is that somebody who had committed an offence in 1999-2000 has failed to escape the long arms of the law. He has finally been arrested and could be extradited to India to face trial. It shows that if the law enforcement agencies don’t give up their pursuit and show perseverance, no accused can escape. The transnational crimes cannot go unpunished,” Kumar, who is the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit chief said.

Also read – Sushant Singh Rajput commends MS Dhoni’s acting skills

“It needed a lot of effort. I kept pursuing it even after my retirement. It is a tribute to the officials of the Delhi Police. Some like-minded officers have made this happen. I am delighted that even after retirement I could do it with the help of the Delhi police,” Kumar, who ensured a charge sheet was filed in the case 13 years after it first surfaced, said.

“The breakthrough came when MK got arrested by the CBI. A lot of people took credit for it but no one bothered to file the charge sheet and for 13 years it kept lying in the dustbin. When I came to know about it, I thought it is necessary to file the charge sheet.

Kumar also went on to enumerate the challenges they went on to face during the investigation. “To trace the file was a big task. But the charge sheet could be completed and it was teamwork. Finally, one week before I retired, it was filed (in 2013).”

“Because of lack of continuity, a case gets affected. There is always a chance that one officer might think it was someone else’s case. But I must say that the Delhi Police did not give up,” Kumar signed off.

Also read – Ravichandran Ashwin urges people to spread love not hatred