Lok Sabha Question No. 419 (STARRED), answered on 2016-12-15
Subject: Betting in Matches
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.419 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15/12/2016

## Betting in Matches

- +*419.   SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  cases  of  alleged  betting  and  fixing  reported  in  various games including cricket matches/series during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry into such cases and if so, the details along with the outcome thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  action  taken  against  the  persons  found  guilty  in  this regard;
- (d) whether involvement of underworld has come to notice and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the recurrence  of such incidents?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.419 FOR REPLY ON 15-12-2016 ASKED BY SHRI GOPAL SHETTY REGARDING BETTING IN MATCHES.

(a) to (e) Madam, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed that the last time that  a betting/ fixing  case was reported in cricket was in May 2013 when some cricketers and team officials were reported for alleged illegal activities in IPL.  There have been no cases since then.

The Delhi and Mumbai Police had enquired into these cases and some people including cricketers, team officials and bookies were arrested. The cases are pending in the High Courts.

BCCI in accordance with its Anti Corruption Code  imposed life ban  on  the  three  cricketers  namely  S.Sreesanth,  Ajit  Chandela  and  Ankit Chavan and also suspended Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan of Chennai Super Kings and Raj Kundra of Rajasthan Royals. Delhi Police had filed a case against the three players under MCOCA, but the special court did not approve of the same.  The  Delhi  Police  then  appealed  against  this  decision  in  Delhi  High Court.

The Supreme  Court appointed a three  member  committee consisting of Justice R.M.Lodha, Justice A.Bhan and Justice R.Raveendran. The  Justice  Lodha  Committee  found  both  the  team  officials,   Gurunath Meiyappan and Mr. Raj Kundra guilty and they were banned for life time and their  teams  namely  Chennai  Super  Kings  and  Rajasthan  Royals  have  been suspended from participating in IPL for two seasons i.e. 2016 and 2017.

BCCI has taken measures like introducing a strong AntiCorruption Code,  Educational Programs,  appointment  of anti-corruption officials  in  Domestic  matches  and  IPL,  working  closely  with  ICC  anticorruption  unit  and  appointment  of  integrity  officers  with  each  of  the  IPL teams.

To  curb  the  incidents  of  unfair  practices  in  sports,  various agencies of the Government are taking action under the existing laws.  A bill has  been  prepared  by  the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports  to  deal  with sporting frauds including match fixing.