CBI probes IPL fixing racket with Pakistan link

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a probe against a nationwide network of bookies who allegedly influenced the outcome of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in 2019 after receiving inputs from Pakistan, people familiar with the development said on Saturday.

The agency has named seven bookies located in Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Hyderabad, along with “unknown public servants” and “unknown private persons” in two cases registered on Friday evening. Raids were also carried out at their premises. It is alleged the accused ran a nationwide network to induce public to bet on cricket matches.

“Reliable information has been received about a network of individuals involved in cricket betting influencing the outcome of Indian Premier League matches based on inputs received from Pakistan,” the federal agency said in one of the first information reports. “In the garb of betting related to IPL matches, they are cheating the general public by inducing them to bet.”

“For this purpose, they have opened bank accounts (mule accounts) using fake identities and Know Your Customer documents in connivance with the unknown bank officials,” it said. “These bank accounts have been opened by submitting forged details such as multiple dates of birth and without due diligence done by the bank officials.”

A part of the money received from the public in India for betting was being shared by their associates based in foreign countries using hawala transactions, the agency further said. Hawala is an informal financial transaction system used primarily to launder unaccounted for funds.

The agency, however, didn’t specify how the accused were influencing the matches, or whether they were in touch with any players or team officials.

Investigators are looking into