UP T20 team manager gets‘offer’ to fix match; FIR filed | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Lucknow police has registered an FIR after the anti-corruption unit (ACU) of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reported an attempt to fix matches during the ongoing Uttar Pradesh T20 League. According to the FIR, Kashi Rudra team manager Arjun Chauhan received suspicious Instagram messages from user ‘vipss_nakrani’ on Aug 19.The suspect offered Rs 1 crore to fix matches and promised Rs 50 lakh as commission to the manager.The FIR was lodged by Hardayal Singh Champawat, the anti-corruption manager for the UP T20 League in Lucknow.The suspect, claiming to be a “big bookmaker”, pushed for WhatsApp communication, assured payments in cash or dollars, and demanded that players follow his instructions during the matches. The suspect engaged in voice calls and messages, which were recorded in the presence of witnesses.He insisted on guaranteed manipulation of players’ performance, assuring immediate payments in US dollars or cash after matches, said the FIR.Screenshots, transcripts, and audio clips of the conversation were collected by the ACU and attached to the FIR.After verification, the ACU concluded that the approach was a deliberate attempt at criminal conspiracy for match-fixing and illegal betting.“We have registered a case against the unidentified suspect and his associates under BNS sections 318 (cheating), 319 (cheating by personation), 112 (penalising organised crime), 62 (attempting to commit offences), section 3 of the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and Section 66D of the IT Act,” said DCP South Zone, Nipun Agarwal.“An investigation is underway to trace the identity of the suspect operating the Instagram account and his possible network of accomplices,” said Agarwal.The UP T20 League, which started in Lucknow on Aug 17, will continue till Sept 6.
