Mystery over city cops’ ‘dismissal’ of 2 nabbed by BCCI anti-graft unit

The anti-corruption unit of the BCCI, which is actively working against betting on cricket, had handed over four suspected bookies to police, two each in Jaipur and Mumbai, on March 28 and April 1, respectively. But while the Jaipur police registered an FIR against the two suspects, in Mumbai the police questioned the duo, checked their mobile phones and let them off.

A source in the BCCI told the FPJ on Wednesday that he was not aware why police had not acted against the suspects. The ACU had spotted the pair in the president’s box in Wankhede on April 1 during the Mumbai Indians vs. Rajasthan Royals match. On finding their actions suspicious, the ACU handed them over to Marine Lines Police, in whose jurisdiction Wankhede stadium is located. However, they were let off by police after questioning

The ACU happens to be a professional body which has dossiers on bookies and others involved in manipulating matches. Hence, it must have handed over the two people after due diligence and that is why it is surprising how the Marine Lines police let go of the duo who had accessed the prime president’s box at Wankhede.

The FPJ contacted Senior Inspector Nilesh Bagul of the Marine Lines police station and he confirmed that the BCCI did hand over two suspects to his police station. The suspicion was that they were involved in online betting.

‘‘However, we checked (their mobiles) through our own staff and also took the help of a private agency but we did not find any suspicious activity. Hence, we let them go after informing the ACU. We have made a diary entry,’’ Bagul added. The case in Mumbai thus ended up as being one of possible mistaken identity.

Attending a match in person and relaying information in real time tends to help bookies exploit the eight-to-fifteen 15 seconds lapse between realtime action and live telecast or streaming. The ACU is understood to have swung into action based on CCTV and live TV footage. The BCCI official, on condition of anonymity, stressed that the ACU, with the support of the BCCI machinery, is “doing its best to keep corrupt elements away from the IPL”. Interestingly, the MCA president’s box – situated right above the Wankhede Stadium dressing rooms – is strictly meant for invitees, with none of the 200 tickets sold to the general public.