NEW DELHI: Alleged bookie Sanjeev Chawla, extradited from the UK earlier this year in connection with a match-fixing scandal, which also involved late South African cricketer Hansie Cronje, will walk out on bail after spending over two months in Tihar jail.
Granting him relief on April 30, judge Ashutosh Kumar in his order highlighted that the Covid-19 pandemic was not likely to end before one or two years as per WHO and "no cricket match was thrown or lost pursuant to the alleged match-fixing". "Accused is ordered to be released on bail by furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties", the court said.
As per submissions made on behalf of Chawla, he had been in custody since February 12, 2020, spending 76 days in jail as a result. His counsel argued that the investigation had already culminated into a supplementary chargehseet.
The prosecution, during the proceedings earlier, opposed Chawla's bail plea contending that it took four to five years and visits of three police officials of the case to the UK to get him extradited to India. The case’s investigating officer admitted that of the five accused persons, Cronje had died and three others were out on bail. However, it was pointed out that a plea seeking Chawla's voice samples and hand-writing specimen was pending for hearing before a magisterial court on May 28, 2020.
Chawla's counsels assured the court that their client was willing to give the same to the investigating agency on the very next day in case he was granted bail or else his bail be cancelled. They also argued that their client may contract Corona infection inside jail besides the charges against him only pertained to cheating and criminal conspiracy, attracting a maximum punishment of up to seven years. It was also contended that only because he was British citizen, his right of bail could not be rejected.
The court noted that case's investigation was complete and the three co-accused were on bail. "Trial is likely to take time. Proposed evidence is primarily documentary in nature", the court said and directed Chawla to give his voice sample and hand-writing specimen immediately after coming out on bail.
Chawla, a British national, is alleged to have played a key role in conspiring with Cronje to fix a South African tour to India in February-March 2000. He kept travelling back and forth between UK and India between 1996 and 2000 until his passport was cancelled by the Indian government after he was found to be allegedly involved in match-fixing. However, the UK authorities gave him permission to remain in London till 2003 and, in 2005, he was granted UK citizenship.
In Video:Delhi court grants bail to bookie Sanjeev Chawla
Granting him relief on April 30, judge Ashutosh Kumar in his order highlighted that the Covid-19 pandemic was not likely to end before one or two years as per WHO and "no cricket match was thrown or lost pursuant to the alleged match-fixing". "Accused is ordered to be released on bail by furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties", the court said.
As per submissions made on behalf of Chawla, he had been in custody since February 12, 2020, spending 76 days in jail as a result. His counsel argued that the investigation had already culminated into a supplementary chargehseet.
The prosecution, during the proceedings earlier, opposed Chawla's bail plea contending that it took four to five years and visits of three police officials of the case to the UK to get him extradited to India. The case’s investigating officer admitted that of the five accused persons, Cronje had died and three others were out on bail. However, it was pointed out that a plea seeking Chawla's voice samples and hand-writing specimen was pending for hearing before a magisterial court on May 28, 2020.
Chawla's counsels assured the court that their client was willing to give the same to the investigating agency on the very next day in case he was granted bail or else his bail be cancelled. They also argued that their client may contract Corona infection inside jail besides the charges against him only pertained to cheating and criminal conspiracy, attracting a maximum punishment of up to seven years. It was also contended that only because he was British citizen, his right of bail could not be rejected.
The court noted that case's investigation was complete and the three co-accused were on bail. "Trial is likely to take time. Proposed evidence is primarily documentary in nature", the court said and directed Chawla to give his voice sample and hand-writing specimen immediately after coming out on bail.
Chawla, a British national, is alleged to have played a key role in conspiring with Cronje to fix a South African tour to India in February-March 2000. He kept travelling back and forth between UK and India between 1996 and 2000 until his passport was cancelled by the Indian government after he was found to be allegedly involved in match-fixing. However, the UK authorities gave him permission to remain in London till 2003 and, in 2005, he was granted UK citizenship.
In Video:Delhi court grants bail to bookie Sanjeev Chawla
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