New Delhi: Sanjeev Chawla, alleged bookie and key accused in one of cricket’s biggest match-fixing scandals that involved former South African captain Hansie Cronje, moved Friday the Delhi High Court challenging his 12-day custodial remand.
A trial court Thursday sent Chawla to 12-day custodial interrogation, noting the matter was to be probed further for which he has to be taken to various cities across the country.
The court sent Chawla, extradited from the United Kingdom, to 12-day custody after Delhi Police sought his 14-day custodial interrogation.
The court had noted that as per September 22, 2017 Letter of Assurance to the UK, the Government of India had assured that the accused would be kept at Tihar jail complex during the pre-trial detention and upon conviction by competent court.
It had said however that ‘the stage of pre trial does not include the stage of investigation and the police custody sought is not against the spirit of the letter of government of India’.
The trial court directed the accused to be produced February 25.
The court was informed that Chawla, who was extradited Thursday from London, was involved in fixing of five matches and has to be taken to various places and confronted with certain people in order to unearth the larger conspiracy. Cronje, who died in a plane crash in 2002, was also involved, police told the court.
Chawla is alleged to have played a central role in conspiring with Cronje to fix a South African tour to India in February-March 2000.
The British court documents say Chawla is a Delhi-born businessman who moved to the United Kingdom on a business visa in 1996, but continued to make trips to India. He got the British citizenship in 2005. He was arrested by the UK police in 2016 and was out on bail before his extradition order was signed.
PTI