The family and relatives of cricketer Ajit Chandila, arrested in connection with spot fixing in IPl matches, have refuted all charges against him. They have sought reinvestigation into the “false and baseless” allegations.
The family said Ajit’s arrest has shattered the family, particularly his eldest brother Subash, who is critically ill and is undergoing a liver surgery in Delhi.
“He (Ajit) has nothing to do with spot fixing. He is innocent. He has been framed due to politics,” said his wife Sarita. “I spoke to him last night. He has been performing well this season, which has made people jealous,” she added.
Chandila’s mother too remained in denial. “This is politics. My son can’t do this. I have given birth to him. I know him very well. The truth will soon come out,” she insisted. Chandila belongs to Tigaon village in Faridabad. His brother Veerpal Gujjar is a local office-bearer of the Indian National lok Dal (INlD) party.
Neighbors and family insisted there was no dearth of money as Ajit himself was a landlord and was also working with Indian Airlines, besides earning handsomely as a cricketer. They said he had no material pursuits and spent most of his time either on the field practicing or working.
Dharamveer Pehalwan, Ajit’s first cousin, who is currently taking care of his house in the absence of his family, lamented, “My cousin is innocent. He has never been a part of any scandal or fight ever since his childhood. He has been falsely implicated. The news came as a shock; we want the matter to be reinvestigated so that the truth surfaces.”
His friends called the allegations a clear trap laid by those who could not see him as a rising star. Vikas Kumar Garg, a close friend, said, “These allegations are false and baseless. He has always been a very down to earth and humble person.”