In a setback to Bengaluru city police, the High Court of Karnataka has held that the acts of match-fixing, allegedly occurred during Karnataka Premier League (KPL) cricket matches held in August 2019, did not amount to an offence of cheating under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and quashed the chargesheet filed against two cricketers and others in the case.
“It is true that if a player indulges in match-fixing, a general feeling will arise that he has cheated the lovers of the game. But, this general feeling does not give rise to an offence,” the court observed.
Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar passed the order while allowing the petitions filed by cricketers Abrar Kazi and C.M. Gautam, who were players of Ballari Tuskers franchise team of KPL, Ali Ashpak alias Asfak Hanif Thara, owner of Belagavi Panthers franchise, all resident of Bengaluru , and Amit Mavi, a bookie based in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.
