BCCI anti-corruption wing ejects alleged bookmaker from Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians match venue: Report | Cricket News

Four alleged bookmakers were removed from luxury boxes at two Indian Premier League (IPL) venues in Jaipur and Mumbai, both involving the Rajasthan Royals. The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) found two bookmakers at each venue and handed them over to local police, The Hindu reported. The first incident took place on March 28 during the match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

The ACU handed over two suspected bookmakers from a corporate box at the venue to local police. The second time happened on April 1 when RR played an away match against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium.

However, the report also claimed that while an FIR was lodged against “both persons in Jaipur, the case in Mumbai may turn out to be a case of mistaken identity”.

However, the two suspects were asked to leave the MCA presidential box. For those unfamiliar, the Presidential Box at the Wankhede Stadium is by invitation only and none of the 200 tickets are open to the public.

“Nothing unusual was found on their electronic devices,” the report quoted an officer from the Marine Avenue Police Department as saying.

By watching games at stadiums, bookmakers take advantage of the time delays associated with live matches and live television broadcasts or streaming, known as “pitch slippage,” to profit from illegal bets.

Since gambling is illegal in India, the ACU, with the help of the BCCI mechanism, is trying its best to keep bad elements out of the IPL or cricket in general.

The IPL has been rocked by betting controversies in the past. In 2013, the police arrested three RR players – S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan – for alleged on-field fixing after a match in Mumbai.

Having said that, eleven bookmakers were also detained by the police. Following the investigation, Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan were banned for life, while RR and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were banned for two seasons.