The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reportedly concluded its investigation into the alleged cricket betting during the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, according to sources on Tuesday. Two cases were filed by the central agency in 2022, asserting that the outcomes of matches in 2019 were manipulated based on information received from Pakistan. After an extensive two-year investigation, the agency has decided to close the case citing a "want of evidence."
In May 2022, the CBI had named eight individuals, including Sajjan Singh, Prabhu Lal Meena, Ram Avatar Meena, and Amit Kumar Sharma from Rajasthan, Gurram Satish and Gurram Vasu from Hyderabad, and Dileep Kumar from Delhi. The charges against them included "influencing the outcome of IPL matches" based on inputs received from Pakistan. The agency accused them of deceiving the public by engaging them in betting under the guise of IPL matches.
The CBI had stated that one racket had been operating since 2010, while another had been active since 2013. The agency invoked the Prevention of Corruption Act in the case, suspecting the involvement of public servants. It was alleged that the accused collaborated with bank officials to open bank accounts using fake IDs and KYC documents.
The investigation was initiated based on information that a portion of the funds generated from betting activities in India was being shared with associates in foreign countries through hawala networks. The agency also claimed that the accused and their associates had communication with a Pakistani suspect named 'Waqas Malik' through a Pakistan phone number. Despite these allegations, the CBI has chosen to close the investigation due to a lack of substantial evidence.
(With Agency Inputs)
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