JUNE 1- Politics and sports should not get mixed, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday on the spot-fixing and betting scandal that has rocked cricket in India.
Asked if the government was contemplating intervention into the scandal, Manmohan Singh said: “I would not like to comment on the type of things you have mentioned. This is under investigation.”
The prime minister refused to be drawn into the controversy that top politicians, including ministers, were holding top positions in the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).
“It is not proper for me to comment. I only hope that politics and sports don’t get mixed,” he told the accompanying media on board his special aircraft after ending his five-day visit to Japan and Thailand.
Cricket has been in the midst of a major controversy following a spot-fixing scandal involving players in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).
Delhi Police busted the racket in the just concluded IPL, with the arrest of three players of Rajasthan Royals. This included controversial fast bowler S. Sreesanth.
The spot-fixing controversy was followed by the Mumbai Police busting a betting racket involving bookies and big names.
Mumbai Police arrested BCCI president N. Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh for alleged involvement in betting.
Srinivasan’s India Cements company owns IPL franchise Chennai Superkings. Gurunath was managing the team as a team owner.
