I am a cricketer not a terrorist: Chandila

Tainted Rajasthan Royals cricketer Ajit Chandila was shocked that Delhi Police have slapped stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) charges against him and pleaded that he is a "cricketer not a terrorist".

"My family and I are in a state of shock that such charges are being levelled against me, I am a cricketer not a terrorist," said Chandila here Monday.

Chandila, one of the prime accused in the Indian Premier league (IPl) spot fixing scandal, was on a three-day bail, that ended Monday, to attend the last rites of his elder brother.

“My elder brother was admitted in a hospital a day after my arrest. A lot has happened in my life since then. I pray god doesn’t let this happen to anyone else,” said Chandila at his residence. 

Chandila, along with his Rajasthan Royals team mates S. Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan, was arrested by Delhi Police May 16 after a midnight raid in Mumbai. Sreesanth and Chavan have secured bail in June but Chandila hasn't been as lucky. He is out on three-day interim bail for the last rites of his elder brother. 

Chandila said he has never been approached by any bookie.

"I have no clue about the spot fixing controversy. I have never been approached by anybody. I am absolutely unaware of this," he said.

When asked if he was being framed, Chandila refused to comment and said: "I don't want to say anything. I am shocked. It is a tragedy for me and my family. I don't even know what will happen to me. I also don't know what is MCOCA. When my lawyer told me the details of the law, I was shocked and devastated."

Asked about his penchant for luxury jeans and watches, Chandila said every sportsperson has a penchant for designer clothes. 

"Each cricketer participating in Ranji or IPl gets paid handsomely. Everyone likes wearing good clothes and watches. It is not that this is possible with wrong means. In fact, we're paid enough that we don't have to resort to any wrong means. As far as my lifestyle is concerned, everybody wants to wear good clothes, shades, etc. So, if I had been spending on myself, it is my personal choice and nobody should be concerned about that."

Chandila said nobody should interfere in his personal life.

"My dream was to become a cricketer and I've worked very hard to achieve that. My performances in the past two seasons of IPl are a testament to that. God willing, I'll soon make a comeback," he said.