S. Sreesanth Discharged in Indian Premier League 2013 Spot-Fixing Case
S. Sreesanth was handed a life ban by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2013 for his alleged connection in IPL 2013 spot-fixing.
Rajasthan Royals pacer S. Sreesanth and 41 others have been discharged by a Patiala House Court in New Delhi in the Indian Premier League 2013 spot-fixing scandal. The entire case has been dropped due to lack of evidence. (IPL spot-fixing scandal: Top 10 development)
"No regrets, no complains against anybody, god-willing I will return to cricket. Hopefully I can take permission from BCCI to use their facilities again and regain fitness," Sreesanth told NDTV, who was in tears following the verdict. (Sreesanth discharged in IPL spot-fixing case: Top 10 quotes)
"I know I have got movie offers but I am a cricketer first. I went through a lot. That's all in the past. I would love to go to the national stadium tomorrow and just run there. (Discharged by Court, Sreesanth wants permission to use BCCI facilities soon)
I will make sure I am fully fit and bowl those outswingers again. I would like to thank my lovely daughter, wife and parents for their support," Sreesanth told media outside the court in New Delhi.
"I have been saying charges (against Sreesanth) are false from Day 1. Today is proof that Delhi police wrongly framed the players," said Sreesanth's lawyer.
Sreesanth's Rajasthan teammate Ankeet Chavan, who was also charged by the Delhi Police, said he was confident of coming back to cricket again.
Top police sources told NDTV, "It (Court verdict) is a setback, will appeal to high court."
On May 16, 2013, the Special Cell of Delhi Police carried out raids in Mumbai and arrested three Rajasthan Royals players - Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan - on charges of spot-fixing. The special cell had named 42 accused in its charge-sheet.
During the arguments on framing of charges, the police had referred to telephonic conversations among players and bookies to establish their match-fixing and betting charges.
The Police had also alleged that call detail records clearly reflect the linkage of accused persons who were part of a crime syndicate to generate money. The court had earlier declared underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel as proclaimed offenders as they are evading arrest in the matter.
Earlier on July 14, a Supreme Court-appointed panel headed by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha, suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years each due to betting. Team owners Gurunath Meiyappan (Chennai) and Raj Kundra (Rajasthan) were banned for life from cricketing activities in India by the panel.