Monday March 13 2006 20:46
IANS
MOHALI: A British national of Indian-origin was arrested
by police here on Monday on charges of cheating, fraud
and impersonation during the second Test match between
India and England that the hosts won.
Rajiv Moolchandani was also charged under the Gambling
Act.
Meanwhile, embarrassed by the controversy, the host
Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) ordered an inquiry
into the episode. PCA president I.S. Bindra told reporters
that an internal probe would be done to see how the
punter got a media accreditation card.
The role of certain PCA officials, especially treasurer
G.S. Walia, who gave the accreditation card to the
punter without verifying his antecedents, would also
be investigated by the police.
"It's a serious matter. The punter was sitting
in the high-security zone where VIPs and players move
openly. Anything could have happened," a police
official said.
Earlier, the 21-year-old Moolchandani was detained
and questioned by police following complaints that
he was a punter and had indulged in online betting.
He was turned out of the media box on Sunday following
complaints by other reporters that he was indulging
in betting.
Claiming to be a British national, the "freelance
journalist" had told PCA officials he was representing
the British media. He failed to furnish any documents
to support his claim.
Even Walia had no answer to the fact that Moolchandani
had been issued an accreditation card without supporting
documents.
Moolchandani had access to the high-security pavilion
block of the stadium for nearly four days. No complaint
was made to the Mohali police despite the serious
offence committed by him.
"The case was not even brought to our notice,
let alone the filing of a complaint by PCA officials,"
a police officer said.
