The threat perception involving the three Rajasthan Royals cricketers arrested in the IPL spot-fixing episode is being probed.
Preliminary investigations reveal that not only did telephone calls come from Dubai, but bookies resorted to various techniques to convince the players.
Chandresh Patel played a vital role in the scandal; he is the one who arranged for women to lay a honey trap. Shantakumaran Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were lured into the trap with the help of women. As each of these women met with the players, the bookies are alleged to have shot videos of them together.
Sreesanth, it is learnt, was threatened that the videos would be made public if he did not go ahead with the plan.
The police also found out that some of the women were checked into rooms next to the players. When these players came out the women struck a conversation with them and coaxed them to meet with the bookies. This honey trap worked like a charm and each one fell for the bait.
The police have also found that the calls made to Chandila's cell phone were from Dubai. “It is under scrutiny at the moment, but we have enough pointers to show that the calls were made from Dubai,” a Delhi police official told rediff.com.
“We do not want to squarely blame any underworld network for this, but the finger does point towards the D-gang, which has the most active betting syndicate,” he added.
Further, the investigation also showed that the players had already received the money in part and splurged it shopping for watches, music systems and other electronic gadgets. Chandila even purchased a watch for Rs 300,000, the police said.
The Delhi police, meanwhile, is looking to complete the investigation as the police from Maharashtra is seeking custody of the players. They will oppose the bail plea, to be filed by the players on Monday, and ask for more time in police custody, police sources said.
Image: Shantakumaran Sreesanth
