IPL Spot-fixing: Delhi police press conference- As it happened...

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Full coverage of the press conference by Delhi police on IPL spot-fixing involving three Rajasthan Royals' players- S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan. ==================================================================================== Mastermind is sitting abroad, says Delhi Police Commissioner. ==================================================================================== Delhi Police Commissioner claims that more arrests will be made in connection with the case. No more players to be arrested. Police on the look out for bookies now. Only Rajasthan Royals are involved in spot-fixing. Batsmen are ruled out as no connection has been established in the audio tapes. ==================================================================================== Delhi Police Commissioner quashes Sreesanth's father's claims of MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh being behind the incident. Jiju Janardhan and Sreesanth played for the same club. Sreesanth operated as a conduit between the bookie and the players. ==================================================================================== Delhi Police Commissioner says some underworld connections have cropped up but they are not going to throw any light on this aspect as of now. ==================================================================================== To a question regarding whether Shaun Tait is also in the scanner the police said that Tait's name has not emerged in the case so far. ==================================================================================== It all started with an information that the Delhi Police had about spot-fixing being rampant in the Indian Premiere League. They kept the players under surveillance and the names of these three players came up. ==================================================================================== Ankeet Chavan received 60 lakh for giving 14 runs in his second over in yesterday's match. After giving 2 runs in his first over, he gave away 13 runs in his second over. ==================================================================================== Another match that the Delhi Police chose to highlight is the match played between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab at Mohali on 9th may 2013. Sreeshant was supposed to put a towel in his trousers before his 2nd spell and give enough time to the bookies to indulge in massive booking. As planned Sreesanth, after bowling the first over without a towel, put on a towel in the 2nd over. To give time he did some warm up exercises. ==================================================================================== First incident of spot fixing was spotted in the match between Pune Warriors and Rajasthan Royals, in Jaipur on 5th may 2013. In this match Chandila was supposed to give 14 runs in 2nd over. He forgot to give the pre-planned signal as a result of which bookies could not bet. This led to demands of Chandila having to return the money he had been paid as advance. Video evidence provided from the match clip. ==================================================================================== Delhi Police explains the modus operandi. An agreement between the bookies and players that in a certain over they would give away a minimum number of runs. Bookies gave them directions that they had to indicate that they are ready to give away those many runs. Indications such as rotating their clock, taking time in setting field and so on. Earlier, Rajasthan Royals pace spearhead S Sreesanth and two other players - Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila - were arrested on charges of spot-fixing. The police have also arrested seven bookies in Mumbai and three bookies in Delhi in connection with the case. They are looking for two more bookies in Delhi. The special cell of the Delhi police arrested Sreesanth from his friend's place in Mumbai while the other two cricketers were arrested last night from the team hotel at Nariman Point. According to reports, the Delhi Police had been tapping phone calls of several bookies and cricketers, and incriminating evidence has been found against these three players.