Police custody of all 11, including Rajasthan Royals' three cricketers — S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, accused in the IPl spot-fixing episode was extended by another five days by a city court on Tuesday.
The accused were on Tuesday produced before the magistrate on expiry of their remand amid tight security and a huge presence of mediapersons. High drama witnessed in the courtroom as it was jam-packed with the presence of several lawyers. The police had a tough time making space for the cricketers to produce them before Metropolitan Magistrate Saumya Chauhan.
Sreesanth was the first to enter the courtroom as police sought permission for his further custodial interrogation. Sreesanth, along with other accused, was brought to the court around 2 pm. A huge crowd had gathered outside the court premises to have a glimpse of the cricketers.
Dressed in a blue T-shirt and jeans, Sreesanth was apparently unmindful of the huge crowd of lawyers and mediapersons in the courtroom. Sreesanth, during the proceedings, remained silent and looked tensed. He did not even speak to his counsel or any others present there. However, when the Delhi Police told the court that the mobile phone that Sreesanth had gifted to his girlfriend was recovered and that he has received Rs 10 lakh thorugh his manager, Sreesanth gave surprising gestures and disagreed the charges made against him.
Seeking five-day custody of the accused, the police said the probe is going on in the case and it also needs to analyse all the recorded conversations of the players and the bookies. However, Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Sreesanth, opposed the plea for further police custody saying that in the past five days the agency has recovered everything and except Yadav, all other accused have already been arrested and they were also confronted with each other. When confrontation was being done for the past five days, then for what purpose police requires their custody, she said.
Meanwhile, in a statement e-mailed to the media through his lawyer Rebecca John, Shreesanth said he was innocent. "I am innocent and have done no wrong. I have never indulged in any spot fixing." He further claimed, "I have never indulged in any spot fixing and I have always played cricket in the spirit of the game".
Sreesanth said "as a cricketer, I have learnt to take knocks along with accolades, in my stride. I recognise that I am going through a tough period in my life. I have utmost faith in our judicial process and I am confident that with time I will be proved innocent, and my honour and dignity will be vindicated and restored," the statement said.