Underworld links justify MCOCA: Cops

The Delhi Police has justified invoking the stringent anti-gangster law MCOCA against cricketers S Sreesanth,Ankeet Chavan

The Delhi Police has justified invoking the stringent anti-gangster law MCOCA against cricketers S Sreesanth,Ankeet Chavan and others involved in the IPL spot-fixing case on the grounds that main accused,Ashwani Aggarwal alias Tinku,was a major bookie who was allegedly in constant touch with the underworld.

The police gave the explanation Friday during the hearing on the bail applications filed by 18 of the 26 accused arrested in the case. 8220;During investigation,it was revealed that accused Ashwani Aggarwal alias Tinku Mandi,a major bookie based in Delhi,was in constant touch with one Dr Javed alias Javed Chutani who,as per confirmation received from a central intelligence agency,is a close associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar- Chhota Shakeel syndicate,8221; the police said in their reply while opposing the bail applications.

The court of Additional Sessions Judge V K Khanna heard the arguments for bail on behalf of Sreesanth,his friend Jiju Janardhan,fellow Rajasthan Royals pacer Ankeet Chavan,alleged bookie Chandresh Patel and six others.

The court also issued fresh production warrants for Aggarwal,who is currently in custody of the Mumbai Police. He has to be before the court by June 13.

Another 8220;bookie8221;,Ramesh Vyas,who was also allegedly in touch with Pakistan-based members of the Dawood crime syndicate,has also been arrested by the Delhi Police from Mumbai. He is expected to be brought to Delhi on Saturday.

During the hour-long arguments,Additional Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan told the court that none of the accused could be given bail under MCOCA until the investigation was complete. 8220;We have not filed the chargesheet,we have only been investigating the matter for 28 days,8221; he argued.

The defence lawyers have,however,questioned the jurisdiction of the Delhi Police to investigate the case. Calling it a case of 8220;monumental injustice8221;,senior advocate Pinaki Misra,who was representing Sreesanth,said that MCOCA had been brought in by the Delhi Police 8220;only to make its case look glamourous8221;.

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Misra said the Act was created specially to deal with organised crime and terrorist activities.

8220;These are matches between city leagues played by private players who are under contract with private companies. Playing in a local league does not bring gambling under the provisions of the objects and reasons for the MCOCA,8221; added Advocate Pawan Narang,counsel for Jiju Janardhan.

Misra also argued that since none of the matches in which the alleged spot-fixing took place were held in Delhi,the Delhi Police did not have the authority to register and investigate the case.

Continuing the same line of argument,Advocate D P Singh,appearing for Chandresh,argued that the places where the alleged crime occurred were in Jaipur,Mohali and Mumbai.

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Misra also countered the allegations that Sreesanth had received large sums of money from bookies. The police had alleged that Sreesanth had thrown parties at the JW Marriott in Jaipur,which had been paid for by the bookies,and had also indulged in shopping with the bookies8217; money. Mishra,however,gave an account of Sreesanth8217;s financial transactions,arguing that he had spent over Rs 4 lakh from his own pocket between May 1 and May 16.

The police have,however,argued that the transactions were only for the period up to May 9,after which he used money given by the bookies.