IPl spot-fixing case: Court fumes as police seek adjournment

The Delhi Police today came under fire from a court here after it sought adjournment instead of advancing arguments on framing of charges in the 2013 IPl spot-fixing case, with the judge observing that the agency was not doing anything in the matter.

"From the last six months, this 'tamasha' (drama) is going on. Police are not doing anything in this case. I had fixed the schedule but again you are seeking adjournment," Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna, who was scheduled to hear the arguments today, said.

As the agitated judge warned that she will order day-to-day hearing without fixing time, the prosecutor said he will advance the arguments tomorrow.

As the proceedings started special public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan told the court that he need some time to advance the arguments as he had to go through the entire files and records of the case.

"I need some time. I will file written arguments also," he said, adding, "I am requesting for date for the last time."

After the prosecutor sought time to advance arguments, the court pulled up Special Cell of Delhi Police saying, "What are your investigating officers (IOs) doingIJ You have been seeking adjournments and since September, I am only giving dates in the matter."

"I have no space to fix the matter now. I will then fix the case on a day-to-day basis....I will not fix any time. You come at 10 AM in the morning and stand here up to 4 PM daily. If I will get time then I will hear the arguments," the judge said.

The court had earlier fixed the case for today for commencement of arguments on framing of charges in the case in which suspended cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan and others, including underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, have been chargesheeted.

The police had given names of accused in six groups to the court, saying as per the charge sheet, the persons named in one group have similar roles in the entire conspiracy.

The first group of accused contains names of Dawood, his aide Chhota Shakeel, who were declared as proclaimed offenders by the court earlier, and others. Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan have figured in the third group having 13 names.

The court had earlier declared Dawood, Shakeel and Chandigarh-based Sandeep Sharma, who were chargesheeted by the police, as proclaimed offenders as they are evading arrest in the matter.

The police had told the court that properties of Dawood and Shakeel in Mumbai have already been attached in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and upon inquiry, it was revealed that they have not visited India since 1993.

It had submitted that Dawood had properties in his name at Dongri in Mumbai whereas Shakeel owned property in Nagpada there.

The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against Dawood and Shakeel, Pakistan-based Javed Chutani, Salman alias Master and Ehteysham, who all are considered to be Dawood's associates.

The police had filed a 6,000-page charge sheet against the accused in the case. It had also filed supplementary charge sheet in the court later on.

The court had on June 10, last year granted bail to Sreesanth, Chavan and 19 others for lack of evidence against them under the provisions of stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Other accused, including Chandila, were also granted bail later on by the court.

The police, in its charge sheet, had claimed that Dawood and Shakeel, who have been "controlling the fixing and betting market" in cricket in India, were behind IPl spot-fixing.