After seven days of interrogation, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested Belagavi Panthers franchise owner Ali Asfak Thara. A unit of Bengaluru Police, CCB started looking into the alleged cricket betting racket during KPL 2019 early this month.
Ali Asfak Thara owns tours and travel business and acquired the Belagavi Panthers franchise back in 2017. He also owned a stake in Kerala Kings and helped organize the International Cricket Premier League in Sri Lanka.
The CCB started the investigation after BCCI’s Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) request. During the last few weeks, the police questioned players and coaching staff of few teams.
“The CCB has unearthed a betting scandal in the KPL. Belagavi Panthers team owner Ali was placing bets on matches. He placed bets with a bookie who is allegedly in Dubai. He is arrested for betting,” told Joint Commissioner of Police, Sandeep Patil.
Other than match-fixing, the police are also looking into spot-fixing (toss, batting order, wide, no ball etc.).
“Match-fixing is still under inquiry. Ali was in touch with players of other teams during the KPL. The players are being investigated,” Patil added.
