How Sreesanth Escaped Spot-Fixing Punishment? Ex-Delhi Top Cop Reveals

Spot-fixing saga: Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar has stated that Indian cricketer S Sreesanth avoided punishment for spot-fixing due to the lack of a specific law against corruption in sports. He said other countries like Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries  have specific laws to deal with corruption in other sports like football, tennis, golf etc.

A Special Cell of Delhi Police headed by Kumar had arrested Sreesanth, along with fellow Rajasthan Royals players Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan on charges of spot-fixing. Sreesanth was reportedly drunk when the officials of the Special Cell arrested him. According to the police, Sreesanth had confessed to spot-fixing in May 2013.

A Supreme Court ruling in 2019 had directed the BCCI to reconsider the life ban imposed on Sreesanth as there was evidence against him. However, Sreesanth's punishment was reduced to a seven-year suspension, which ended in September 2020.

“The case seemingly didn't go anywhere...unfortunately, there is no law (in India) to deal with corruption in cricket or corruption in sports in general," a veteran IPS officer said during an exclusive interaction with PTI news agency. 

Also Read: Anupama Parameswaran Reacts to Lip Lock Scene Controversy