IPL spot-fixing case: Court grants bail to suspected bookie

New Delhi: A suspected bookie, said to be in touch with suspended cricketer and co-accused Ajit Chandila in the IPL spot-fixing scandal case, was on Friday granted bail by a Delhi court.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma granted the relief to Praveen Kumar Thakkar, who had surrendered before the court on January 18, observing that other accused in the case are already out on bail. Thakkar was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the like amount and the court also imposed several conditions on him, including that he would not leave the country without its permission. According to the Special Cell of Delhi Police, he was involved in the conspiracy and was in touch with Chandila and two others regarding the match fixing in the IPL. Thakkar was in police custody till today and the special cell told the court that he was not required for further custodial interrogation. Police had earlier filed charge sheets against various accused, including underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, his aide Chhota Shakeel and suspended cricketers S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Chandila for their alleged involvement in the organised crime syndicate. It had also issued non-bailable warrants against Ibrahim, Shakeel, Javed Chutani and Salman, who all are absconding. Police in its charge sheet alleged that Ibrahim and Shakeel, who have been "controlling the fixing and betting market" in cricket in India, were behind the IPL spot-fixing. Sreesanth, Chandila, Chavan and other co-accused are currently out on bail.