Is media jumping the gun in the IPL spot-fixing episode? In particular, are there more players involved in the racket as speculated in several news reports? Sources in the special cell of the Delhi Police maintain that it is all kite-flying, and as of now no more than the three arrested players are on the probe radar.

“We do not have any evidence against any other player right now and all the names doing the rounds in the media are plain speculation,” a special cell official told Governance Now on Saturday. 

A news website named two players and said they were under scanner for throwing away a match in the IPL season 5 last year. Chasing a score of 152 against Delhi Daredevils, Rajsthan Royals needed 12 runs in the last two overs. However they fell short of the target with the two players on crease getting out.

“We have no idea what is the source of this news. It is too early to zero in on any player right now,” the police officer said.

Police also have no evidence of the involvement of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in the matter so far and yet a number of newspapers have named him as the kingpin. “It’s too premature to say anything on the involvement of Dawood, although we have seized a Dubai number,” said the cop. 

The special cell arrested three RR players—S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chauhan—for spot fixing in current season of the IPL. All three players have reportedly confessed to their role in the biggest scandal that the IPL has faced since it was launched six years ago in 2008. 

On different occasions in the current IPL season, the three players allegedly took money from bookies to concede a certain number of runs in an over. Police not only have taped phone interception of these players with the bookies but they are also armed with video footage that establishes the links.