Delhi Police moves HC against bail to Sanjeev Chawla

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Saturday approached the Delhi High Court challenging trial court's order of granting bail to cricket bookie Sanjeev Chawala.

The matter is listed for hearing on Saturday itself before a single-judge bench of the High Court presided by Justice Asha Menon.

In its plea before the High Court, the police said: "The accused Sanjeev Kumar Chawla is a British national. It took 20 years to bring him to justice in India. Investigation agency worked hard on this case to get the accused extradited from the UK and succeeded in the matter as the case is very strong on law and facts. There is likelihood of the accused fleeing away from justice."

Earlier in the day, a Delhi Court granted bail to Chawla in the match-fixing case.

Additional Sessions Judge Ashutosh Kumar granted him bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties of like amount.

He had been directed not to leave the country without permission, provide his and his brother's mobile number to the police and keep their phones operational all the time.

The bookie had also been directed by the court to give his voice sample and specimen handwriting after coming out from bail.

The court stated: "...in view of COVID-19 pandemic which is not likely to end before one or two years as per WHO, and in view of the fact that no cricket match was thrown or lost pursuant to alleged match-fixing, the accused Sanjeev Kumar Chawla is ordered to be released on bail."

The court, while granting him bail, further observed that he was in custody for the last 76 days and a charge-sheet has already been filed in the case.

The judge noted that that three co-accused are already out on bail and trial in the case is likely to take time.

Chawla is one of the main accused in the match-fixing scandal that also involved late South Africa captain Hansie Cronje.

He had allegedly conspired with the latter to fix matches during South Africa's tour to India in 2000.