Published: Jun 25, 2013, 06:26 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 25, 2013, 06:26 PM (IST)
Delhi Police Special Commissioner SN Srivastava feels potential match-fixers have a chance of manipulating regulatory body if betting is legalised © Getty Images
New Delhi: Jun 25, 2013
New Delhi Police’s Special Commissioner SN Srivastava, who is leading the Special Cell’s investigations into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013 spot-fixing scandal, is against the idea of legalising sports betting in India as potential match fixers have a chance of “manipulating” regulatory body.
“Just because we have failed to curb it, we should not resort towards regulating betting,” Srivastava said during an interactive session on ‘Regulating Sports Betting: To Counter Match Fixing’ organised by the FICCI.
“Even if we legalise betting or form a regulatory authority, does than guarantee a curb on betting?” Srivastava asked a pertinent question. Match fixers can use regulatory bodies to manipulate the players even more to do spot-fixing or match-fixing,” he said.
Srivastava, believes that a specific law would have been helpful to covict the players who are allegedly involved in the case.
“We have been using IPC and MCOCA. We would file the chargesheet in the case very soon. Till the new laws come up, we have to follow the Indian Gambling Act of 1955,” he added.
He was also of the opinion that the Indian society, compared to the advanced countries where betting is legal, is not in a position to accept legalised betting.
