IPL spot-fixing: Gurunath Meiyappan’s voice sample confirmed, say reports

New Delhi: The Forensic Science Laboratory in Mumbai identified the voice of Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scam, spot-fixing case accused Gurunath Meiyappan in a tapped phone conversation. According to multiple media reports, the son-in-law of ICC, boss N Srinivasan was heard talking to another accomplice Vindoo Dara Singh.

Meiyappan had already been chargesheeted and even spent time in jail last year. But he had refused to depose before the Justice Mukul Mudgal-led probe committee saying the case was sub-judice. Reports also mentioned involvement of other bookies in the betting scam.

The spot fixing and betting scandal hit the 2013 edition of IPL, with Delhi Police arresting three Rajasthan Royals cricketers – S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan – in a midnight raid in Mumbai. Then, Mumbai police also unearthed betting links after they arrested Meiyappan and Bollywood actor Vindu.

Last October, the apex court had constituted the Justice Mukul Mudgal panel to investigate the spot-fixing and betting case in the case-rich IPL. The three-member panel led by Justice Mudgal, a retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, has Additional Solicitor General L Nageswara Rao and senior advocate Nilay Dutta in the committee.

And on February 10, the committee submitted its first report to the court after conducting a four-month long probe. It is learnt that cricketers, board officials, cops, lawyers and even journalists had deposed before the panel and depositions were recorded during the probe on equipment provided by BCCI.

In the follow up, the court had asked the committee to continue its investigation of the persons named in the sealed envelope and the committee was also given greater powers to effectively conduct its probe. After agreeing to lead the investigation, Justice (Retired) Mudgal had listed for specific organisations and individuals whose assistance he would require, which included a former India cricketer "of repute and integrity".

The Mudgal committee will submit its final report to the apex court at the end of this month, and the hearing will start on November 10.

With agency inputs