da esoccer bet： London-based Indian businessman Sanjeev Chawla, arrested by ScotlandYard six months ago in connection with allegations of cricket matchfixing, has been released as there was “insufficient evidence” toprove the charges against him
20-Jun-2001London-based Indian businessman Sanjeev Chawla, arrested by ScotlandYard six months ago in connection with allegations of cricket matchfixing, has been released as there was “insufficient evidence” toprove the charges against him.”There is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect ofconviction against him,” a spokesman of the Scotland Yard said inLondon on Wednesday.Chawla, who was absconding after his passport was revoked by theIndian Government, “has been advised that he is no longer required tocome to the police station,” the spokesman told PTI.Chawla, who is also sought by the CBI, was arrested on December 13 byofficers of the Serious and Organised Crime Squad from his home inHendon in North London after claims by former England player ChrisLewis that an associate of the Indian businessman had approached AlecStewart and Alan Mullaly ahead of a Test against New Zealand in August1999.”Having taken advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, theMetropolitan Police told us that there is insufficient evidence toprovide a realistic prospect of conviction and all police inquirieshave been now concluded,” the Scotland Yard spokesman said.Disgraced former South African Captain Hansie Cronje had admittedreceiving 6,000 pounds from Chawla for providing personal favours inthe final Test against England at Centurion Park, Pretoria, lastJanuary. On a tense last day of that match, England triumphed by twowickets after Cronje forfeited South Africa’s second innings.The 33-year-old Chawla was also named in the King Commission reportinto Cronje’s activities and also in the Indian CBI report, whichlinked him directly to Manoj Prabhakar, the former Indian all rounderwho is now banned for five years for his part in match fixing.The criminal investigation handled by the new Scotland Yard was notpart of the International Cricket Council’s investigation headed bySir Paul Condon, whose brief in investigating match fixing all overthe world continues.The Scotland Yard’s inquiry had been prompted by Lewis’s allegationthat an Indian sports promoter had approached him to help fix the OldTrafford Test by asking England players to take a bribe. The promoteris stated to be a close associate of Chawla, who owns a clothingbusiness in Central London.