IPL spot-fixing: Fate of S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan to be decided on July 25

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday announced to pronounce its order on framing of charges in IPL-6 spot fixing case in which suspended cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan and others, including underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel, are accused, on July 25.

Earlier, Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna had on May 23 reserved for Monday the order on framing of charges in the case and had asked the counsel appearing for the accused to file their written arguments, if any, by June 6.

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Special Cell of Delhi Police had named 42 accused in the case in its charge sheet out of whom six are absconding.

The investigation carried out by police in the case had earlier come under scanner of the court which had questioned its theory of "match fixing", saying there was prima facie no evidence showing that matches were fixed by the accused.

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During the arguments on framing of charges in the case, the police had referred to telephonic conversations among the accused to buttress their claim that they were involved in match fixing and betting.

It had also alleged that call detail records clearly reflect the linkage of accused persons who were part of a crime syndicate to generate money. Meanwhile, the advocates representing the accused had countered the police's submissions contending that the probe had failed to show commission of any prima facie offence by their clients.

The defence counsel had also argued that there was prima facie no evidence to frame charges in the case.

The court had earlier declared Dawood and Shakeel as proclaimed offenders as they are evading arrest in the matter. Police had told the court that properties of Dawood and Shakeel in Mumbai have already been attached in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and that they have not visited India since 1993.

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Police had informed the court that Dawood had properties in his name at Dongri in Mumbai whereas Shakeel owned properties in Nagpada there. The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against Dawood and Shakeel, Pakistan-based Javed Chutani, Salman alias Master and Ehteysham, who all are considered to be Dawood's associates.

The police had filed a 6,000-page charge sheet against various accused in the case. It had also filed supplementary charge sheet later on.

The court had granted bail to Sreesanth, Chavan and various others accused for lack of evidence against them under the provisions of stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Other accused, including Chandila, were also granted bail later on by the court. The police, in its charge sheet, had claimed that Dawood and Shakeel, who have been "controlling the fixing and betting market" in cricket in India, were behind IPL spot-fixing.