IPL 2021: 40 housekeeping staff were allowed for IPL fixtures, DDCA let in 42

New developments and reports reveal that the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) had let in two extra persons, beyond the 40 that were registered for housekeeping, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match on May 2. Incidentally, Delhi police had nabbed two corruptors, who were identified as Krishan Garg of Swaroop Nagar and Manish Kansal of Jalandhar in Punjab, for indulging in ‘betting’ during the said match.

The bookies entered the stadium using forged accreditation cards and were charged under the relevant provision of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Epidemic Disease Act, currently operational owing to the rampant spread of Covid-19 in the nation. During official interrogation, neither of them was able to satisfactorily respond about their presence in the gallery of the VIP lounge inside the stadium.

“There were 40 persons who had the permission to get into the Arun Jaitley Stadium for housekeeping during IPL matches at Delhi’s Aun Jaitley Stadium. However, these two individuals, who were arrested by Delhi Police, managed to get into the stadium,” a DDCA, official close to the developments, told in an interaction.

“So, there were 42 eventually who managed to get in. The contracted worker – a cleaner – who led to the arrest of these two was however, part of the 40 that were registered. The police are investigating the matter. It could lead to someone within the association. The responsibility lies with the DDCA Administrator (HR) Neeraj Sharma since all the passes and accreditation go through him,” said the official.

While Sharma had told on Wednesday that the DDCA will investigate the matter, on Thursday he said he can’t speak on the matter, but would do so later.

Meanwhile, Shabbir Hussain Khandwawala, chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Anti-Corruption Unit, told in an interview on Thursday that he believed DDCA was responsible for providing accreditation to the two individuals who had entered the stadium for the “purpose of betting”.

“One of my ACU officers caught a person and handed over the details to Delhi Police. While that particular offender managed to flee leaving behind his two mobile phones, ACU lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police,” Hussain told on Wednesday (May 5).

“We are thankful to Delhi Police that in a separate incident they caught two other persons from the Kotla on ACU tip-off.”

What led to the suspicion?

“On two separate days, these people managed to get access to Kotla. The one who fled came in the garb of a cleaner. However, we have all his details as he was employed for the tournament. His Aadhar Card details have been handed over to Delhi Police,” Hussein said. “I am confident that he will be nabbed in a day or two. He is a small fry working for a couple of hundred or some thousand bucks may be,” Hussain told earlier.

The man who fled came under suspicion when he was spotted on the phone in a secluded area.

“He was standing (inside Feroz Shah Kotla premises) in a secluded area all by himself and so one of our officers approached and asked him: ‘What are you doing here?’ He said: “Main apne girlfriend se baat kar raha hoon” [I am talking to my girlfriend].

“My officer then asked him to dial the number he was talking to and then asked him to hand over the phones. Just when he was going through the contents of his phone, the guy fled from the spot,” Hussein said, without divulging which match-day the incident occurred on.

“It was one of the evening matches in Delhi. He was wearing an ID card. Also, what raised suspicion was he had two mobiles. The information he may be supplying could be to someone more influential among bookmakers, and so we needed to inform the Delhi Police. Delhi Police has responded positively and thus next instance two people were arrested,” Hussain had said.