Dawood Ibrahim was also involved in match fixing scandal in 2000, says ACP Ishwar Singh
Dawood Ibrahim was also involved in match fixing scandal in 2000, says ACP Ishwar Singh
Assistant Commissioner of Police Ishwar Singh, who busted the match fixing scam in 2000, on Thursday claimed that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was also involved in the scandal.
Ishwar Singh, who was the first to be posted in the anti-extortion cell of Delhi Police, told news agency IANS, "I saw Sanjeev Chawla for the first time in March 2000 at the Taj Mansingh Hotel. I was investigating an extortion case that had its roots in Dubai. During investigation, I also got to listen a conversation between Chawla and Hansie Cronje, the then skipper of South Africa cricket team, on international bookie Rajesh Kalra's telephone."
"One day I followed Kalra's car. He was on his way to give Cronje a sim card through Chawla. That was for the first and the last time I saw Chawla," Singh said.
The Delhi Police filed a criminal case for match fixing on 6th April 2000, on my complaint, he stated. When then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government came to know about alleged participation of several international cricketers in the scandal, the matter was transfered to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
If he would like to come face to face with Chawla after 19 years, Singh said, "It all depends on the Delhi Police. I work as per the orders. But personally I would like to meet him and ask about Indian cricket players involved in the scandal."
On underworld don’s embroilment in match fixing scandal, Ishwar Singh stated regardless of what he saw and heard of during probe, he could assume that Dawood Ibrahim was directly or indirectly involved in the scam. "I heard one of his henchmen talking over the phone about it," Singh said.
Now that Chawla has been deported to India, he might disclose something. The police can figure out something about Dawood’s embroilment. Which couldn’t be resolved that time due to dearth of evidences.
On the consequence of Chawla’s deportation, Singh stated, "It's important to clean the gentleman's game. 19 years ago, I did whatever I could. G. Ramgopal Naik, DCP Crime, worked hard for Chawla's extradition from the UK. He might get something big out of him."
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