BCCI suspends tainted trio, promises 'strictest' action

A "shocked and saddened" BCCI today suspended pacer S Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan Royals players accused of spot-fixing in the T20 league matches and vowed to take "strictest action" against them if found guilty after an inquiry.

A "shocked and saddened" BCCI today suspended pacer S Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan Royals players accused of spot-fixing in the T20 league matches and vowed to take "strictest action" against them if found guilty after an inquiry.

HT Image

A special cell of the Delhi police arrested Sreesanth and his teammates -- Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- along with seven bookies on Wednesday night after their team's T20 match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.

The cricketers and bookies have been charged under sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and are being flown in to Delhi for further questioning.

The Board said it would cooperate with the Delhi Police during the course of investigation and issued a statement.

The BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement: "The BCCI is shocked and saddened at the recent developments. The BCCI has zero tolerance to corruption. We will offer all cooperation to the Delhi police and all other authorities in their investigations in this matter. The IPL Governing Council has met and decided that the cricketers found involved will be dealt with severely.

"The BCCI engages the services of the anti corruption wing of the ICC to educate and monitor players and support staff in prevention of corruption of any form in the game," it said.

"In fact, it is wholly unfortunate that despite such education, best playing conditions and terms of engagement offered, some players seem to be indulging in such activity," it added.

The police have also arrested seven bookies in Mumbai and three bookies in Delhi in connection with the same case. They are looking for two more bookies in Delhi.