₹1 Crore Bribe to Fix UP T20 Match? Shocking Twist Before Final
UP T20 League rocked by ₹1 crore match-fixing attempt ahead of the final.
A startling match-fixing scandal emerged in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League, rocking the cricketing community just before the tournament’s final on September 6. Kashi Rudras team manager Arjun Chauhan reported receiving a suspicious Instagram message from the account ‘vipss_nakrani,’ offering Rs 1 crore to manipulate a player’s performance, with an additional Rs 50 lakh commission per match.
The sender, claiming to be a prominent Lucknow-based bookie, promised payments in US dollars via online transfers and insisted on communication through WhatsApp, assuring immediate cash or dollar payments post-match. An FIR, lodged by Hardayal Singh Champawat, Regional Integrity Manager of the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit, was filed at Sushant Golf City Police Station in Lucknow, prompting a rigorous investigation.
The FIR, registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 49, 56, 61, 62, 112, 318, and 319, Section 3 of the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, alleges a coordinated conspiracy involving betting and match-fixing. Chauhan promptly alerted the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), which set up a trap, engaging the suspect in recorded WhatsApp calls and messages to gather evidence, including screenshots, transcripts, and audio clips.
The suspect reportedly claimed to have associates present at matches to ensure compliance and immediate payment, targeting the Kashi Rudras, who are set to face the Meerut Mavericks in the UP T20 League final at Ekana Stadium.
Lucknow Police, under the supervision of DCP South Zone Nipun Agarwal, are actively tracing the suspect behind the ‘vipss_nakrani’ account and investigating potential links to a broader betting network. The ACU’s swift action and submission of recorded evidence underscore the BCCI’s commitment to safeguarding cricket’s integrity.
As the investigation unfolds, this scandal casts a shadow over the UP T20 League, raising concerns about the vulnerability of domestic tournaments to illicit influences and prompting calls for stricter oversight.
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