Observing that probe in the IPL betting scandal was at a premature stage, the Bombay High Court today refused to grant relief to two bookies from Jaipur, accused to have been in touch with actor Vindoo Dara Singh and Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf for placing bets.
A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and S B Shukre was hearing a petition filed by brothers Pawan and Sanjay Jaipur seeking quashing of the FIR registered against them and a direction to the police to not take any coercive steps against them. The duo had earlier filed anticipatory bail petitions in the High Court.
Justice Sadhana Jadhav is likely to pass order on the plea on August 23 but had earlier suggested that she was inclined to reject it. "Investigation is still on. At this stage we are not inclined to grant relief. If tomorrow the police does not find any material against you then they may file appropriate report," Justice Dharmadhikari observed.
Following this remark, the brothers sought to withdraw their petition which was allowed. Additional public prosecutor Aruna Kamat Pai argued that there was ample material against the two petitioners not only for betting and gambling but in the entire conspiracy. According to the crime branch, the Jaipur brothers had procured SIM cards through forged documents which were later used to place bets through Vindoo Dara Singh. The police also alleged that the duo were in touch with Asad Rauf.
The crime branch had earlier arrested Vindoo and Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of N Srinivasan (who stepped aside as BCCI president in view of inquiry into the case), and several other bookies for their alleged involvement in the IPL betting scandal. Vindoo, Meiyappan and other bookies were granted bail later.
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