Delhi Police details conversations between bookies, players

New Delhi – Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar Thursday gave out details of conversations between bookies and players. This led to the arrest of three Rajasthan Royals players S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan as well as 11 bookies on charges of spot fixing in Indian Premier League matches.

Some excerpts, translated from Hindi:

Chandila: Yes, tell me brother.

Bookie: Do the first over with lot of confidence and in the same way bowl in the second over.

Player: Ok, ok will do.

Bookie: What will be your signal?

Player: I will pick up my t-shirt twice. And will then look up at the sky before starting the over

This conversation was before the May 5 match between Rajasthan Royals and Pune Warriors in Jaipur. According to police, Chandila had to give 14 runs for which he had to carry out predetermined signals before starting the over. However, he forgot to give the signals as a result of which the bookies could not bet in this match and this led to lot of arguments. The deal was fixed over Rs.40 lakh.

Second conversation:

First Bookie: Brother give me signal. What will be the signal.

Second Bookie: I have told them. he will not do any thing that would be unusual.

First Bookie: Brother, please advise him. We want some time to start the booking before starting the over.

Second Bookie: Yes, ok.

This conversation was before the May 9 match that was played at Mohali between Rajasthan Royals and Kings Eleven Punjab, police said at the press conference.

In this match, Sreesanth had a conversation with a bookie. Sreesanth told the bookie that he would put a towel in his trouser pocket before bowling the second over of his spell, which would also give enough time to the bookie for betting. As decided, Sreesanth bowled the first over without wearing the towel, in second over the towel was seen in his trouser. And then went on to give 13 runs. The deal was fixed for Rs.60 lakh.

Third conversation:

Chavan: I am outside somewhere.

Chandila: Should I say yes?

Chavan: Yes, but how much?

Chandila: They are saying 12.

Chavan: No this much is not possible.

Chandila: I have given them assurance. Should I say yes.

Chavan: Ok. Say yes

Chandila: I have told them Rs.60.

Chavan: Yes,  ok. I will move my wrist band as an indication.

This conversation was before the May 15 match that was in Mumbai between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. Chandila was not playing. He was acting as a go-between the bookies. Chavan was to take Rs.60 lakh for one over and perform as per the direction of the bookies. He was asked to give at least 13 runs in the second over of his spell, police said.