Delhi Police to move HC against acquittal of Sreesanth, 35 others

The Delhi Police on Friday decided to appeal in the High Court against a city court order discharging all the 36 accused in the sensational IPl-6 spot fixing case, including test discard S Sreesanth, and two other cricketers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.The city court in its order acquitted all the 36 accused including cricketers Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan in the IPl spot fixing case. Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) SN Srivastava said on Friday that the case is still in the framing stage and they have evidence to prove that their investigation was not a fluke but was backed by evidence.

"The Delhi Police has decided to file an appeal in the IPl spot fixing case against the discharge of the accused. We have already sought the concurrence of the law Department of Government of Delhi in this regard and the approval of the Commissioner of Police has already been taken," Srivastava said."We are going to appeal against the court order and there is sufficient group to do so," he said.It may be recalled that slapped with charges including that of organised crime, India's test discard S Sreesanth and two other cricketers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, were on July 25, discharged in the sensational 2013 IPl-6 spot-fixing case by the court which held that police had failed to make out a case against them.

Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna in her order had discharged all the 36 people in the case accused of cheating by impersonation and conspiracy along with charges under the tough provisions Maharashtra Control of Organised Control Act (MCOCA)."The court in its order in the IPl spot fixing case accepted the efforts of the Special Cell in bringing forth the contamination which has threatened the sports, especially IPl. It also said that it (Special Cell) has exposed the nexus between various players, the bookies and others in match fixing and betting," Srivastava said.

"The Court has further observed that because of the vacuum of the law and for other reasons, it (court) has discharged the accused," he said. The law department while concurring with the opinion of Prosecution department has observed the case is still in the charge framing stage and it can prove its case. 

At this stage only presumptive and prima facie opinion is required so the case is made out for appeal, he said. 

The three cricketers, who were banned for life by the BCCI immediately after police action in the alleged scam two years ago, were clubbed with underworld fugitive dons Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel. Also, they were accused of involvement in organised crime syndicate run by the dons.