Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday observed that the recent IPL betting scandal has international ramifications and repercussions as the general public following the game of cricket keenly, feel cheated. The observation was made by Justice Sadhana Jadhav while hearing anticipatory bail pleas filed by brothers Pawan Jaipur and Sanjay Jaipur, alleged to be bookies who were in touch with actor Vindoo Dara Singh and Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf for placing bets during the recent IPL tournament.
Senior counsel Amit Desai, appearing for one of the brothers, argued that at the most the duo can be booked for offence of placing bets which falls under the Prevention of Gambling Act, which is a bailable offence. "Gambling might be a bailable offence but it has repercussions as the general public at large who are watching the game feel cheated," Justice Jadhav said.
Stating that the case also has international ramifications, Justice Jadhav said, "Whatever probe papers I have seen so far, certain international ramifications are there in this case. And it is not just about Asad Rauf. Transcripts and phone records show numbers of other countries also." Observing that custodial interrogation may help police to get to the root of the matter, Justice Jadhav indicated that she was not inclined to grant the Jaipur brother anticipatory bail.
The court, however, posted the matter for further hearing on August 8 to enable the lawyers to consult with their clients. The court also rapped the crime branch for the manner in which it was probing the case. "There is no proper application of mind by the police. You are literally shooting in the air," Justice Jadhav said.
The court also noted that the three SIM cards recovered from Vindoo after his arrest belonged to employees of the jewellery shop owned by the Jaipur brothers. "So you cannot feign innocence about your friendship with Vindoo," the court said to the Jaipur brothers. The Mumbai crime branch had arrested Vindoo and Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of N Srinivasan and several other bookies for their alleged involvement in the IPL betting scandal. Vindoo, Meiyappan and other bookies were granted bail after their arrest.
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