Sanjeev Chawla & the India-South Africa match fixing scandal, 2000

WHO IS SANJEEV CHAWLA?

Sanjeev Chawla, as per the court documents filed in the UK High Court, is described as a Delhi-born businessman, who moved to the UK on a business visa in 1996, where he has been based while making trips back and forth to India.

Chawla was the key operator of one of the biggest betting syndicates in late 1990s under the patronage of Mumbai-based business tycoons and operatives of D-Company. Role of Chawla was to fix the matches through top cricketers in South Africa, India, Pakistan and other countries, meanwhile D-Company ensured that bids and proceeds were settled smoothly through overseas hawala transactions.

The spot fixing scandal was supported by D-Company boss Dawood Ibrahim and his lieutenant Chhota Shakeel.

CHARGES FACED

Sanjeev Chawla has been facing charges of Cheating under section 420 and Criminal Conspiracy under section 120 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

TIMELINE

2000:-

The scandal first came to light in April when the Delhi Police intercepted a conversation between the blacklisted bookie Chawla and Cronje, in which it was known that the South African captain had accepted money to lose matches. Cronje was a top international player, a national captain who was caught on tape sharing match information with a member of an illegal betting syndicate which happened to be setback in the world of cricket. This also led to forcing the authorities across countries to probe corruption among players.

Chawla, managed to flee from India to the UK in 2000. His Indian passport was revoked that year, and he obtained a British passport in 2005.

2013:-

In July, Delhi Police filed a 70-page chargesheet in the scandal which named Chawla and Cronje, who died in a plane crash in June 2002). The two were accused by the crime branch of India for fixing matches between India and South Africa from February 16, 2000 to March 20, 2000. Chawla had also been accused of offering money to two players of England in August 1999.

2016:-

On June 14, following India’s request for his extradition, Chawla was arrested in London and the Delhi Police was asked by UK officials for details of security arrangements and facilities in the jail he would be kept in, after Chawla raised several queries about the security and facilities in Indian jails.

2017:-

Chawla won a case at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, which adjudicated that there was a prima facie case to answer, but his human rights could not be guaranteed in Tihar jail, where he was to be held.

2018:-

In November, the UK High Court quashed the lower court’s order on being convinced by the Indian government’s assurances about the Tihar jail conditions and directed the District Judge to re-start the extradition proceedings.

2019:-

The magistrates’ court issued a fresh order in January in favour of Chawla’s extradition. In February, the former UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid signed off the order under the India-UK Extradition Treaty.

January 2020

Chawla filed an appeal against the extradition order in the UK High Court, which was turned down in. He was finally put into the custody of the Delhi police on Wednesday, who brought him to India the next day.

April 2020

After being in in custody for the last 76 days, A Delhi Court under Special Judge Ashutosh Kumar granted bail relief to Chawla on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties of the like amount. The court also directed him to give his voice sample and handwriting specimen to the investigating officer in the case.

The matter is now fixed before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sudhir Kumar Sirohi on July 4 for hearing arguments on charge.