IPL: Ministry wants deterrent punishment for guilty players

The Sports Ministry has on Thursday asked Indian Premier League authorities to hand deterrent punishment to three cricketers allegedly involved in spot-fixing if they are found guilty and said the Board should ensure that such unethical incidents do not happen in future.

"It is very unfortunate that Delhi Police have arrested some cricket players for their alleged role in the spot-fixing in the ongoing IPL tournament," the Ministry said in a statement.

"The Minister of Sports, Shri Jitendra Singh has spoken to Chairman of the IPL Shri Rajeev Shukla on the issue and impressed upon him to take urgent steps to put in place a mechanism to prevent such unethical activities and ensure clean sports in the country.

"The Minister also emphasised that strict action be taken against all those who are found guilty to serve as a deterrent to others," the release added.

In a sensational development, Indian speedster S Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates were on Thursday arrested on charges of spot-fixing, throwing the cash-rich Indian Premier League into its biggest crisis till date.

A special cell of the Delhi police arrested Sreesanth and his teammates -- Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- along with seven bookies last night after their team's IPL match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.

The cricketers and bookies have been charged under sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and are being flown in to Delhi for further questioning.