IPL fixing: Meiyappan remanded under IPC, Gambling Act charges

Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of Board for Control of Cricket in India chief N Srinivasan, was produced before a magistrate's court in Mumbai today on charges of match fixing and remanded in police custody till 29 May.

Meiyappan, the 'prinicpal' of Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings, has been charged under numerous sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Gambling Act and the Income Tax Act. Among other things, he has been accused of passing team information to bookies.

He was kept away by police from the throng of media persons, whose entry to the court premises and the police commissioner's office was restricted today.

Meiyappan, dressed in the navy blue Chennai Super Kings jersey, jeans and a pair of floaters, looked unperturbed and curiously kept looking at the court proceedings of other persons.

He chatted around with other people and wore a smile on his face as he waited his turn in the court.

The Mumbai Crime Branch today said that they have obtained call details of four phones of Meiyappan. These reveal that he used to place bets with the help of wanted bookie Jupiter and arrested actor Virendra Dara Singh Randhawa, alias Vindoo – son of legendary wrestler-actor Dara Singh.

Meiyappan used to stay in touch with the bookies from these phones which were procured through fake documents, said crime branch officials. He also used these phones to pass on team planning and strategies to Vindoo.

The police claim Meiyappan made calls to Vindoo when matches were under way, and Vindoo then called bookies with the information.

The crime branch is still investigating the financial arrangement between Meiyappan and Vindoo.

The crime branch also wants to investigate Meiyappan's relationship with Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf, who was dropped by the ICC from the Champions Trophy after his name cropped up in the spot-fixing allegations.

Rauf himself is unlikely to be ever available for questioning, as he has already landed in Pakistan without the police making any effort to stop him.

Meiyappan used to place bets through the book 'Jack' that Vindoo operated, said crime branch sources.

A model who is being questioned has claimed that Meiyappan had told her during a phone conversation about how tense he was after losing Rs10 lakh that he had placed as a bet on CSK.

His team meanwhile will appear in the IPL final on Sunday, along with the so far untainted Mumbai Indians.