Delhi Police on Thursday claimed that Rajasthan Royals' co-owner Raj Kundra has admitted to betting in the Indian Premier League (IPL) through bookie Umesh Goenka.
"We got to know that he (Raj Kundra) used to place bets and that is why he was called for questioning. Umesh Goenka was the bookie through whom he placed the bets. He has lost a lot of money on the bets that he made," said Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar.
Delhi Police has also asked Kundra to surrender his passport and not to leave the country pending further inquiry in the IPL spot-fixing scandal.
Kundra, an NRI businessman based in the United Kingdom, was questioned for almost twelve hours by the police yesterday.
Information on Kundra came to light during the interrogation of his friend Umesh Goenka, a businessman who reportedly used to ask Rajasthan Royal players about strategy, team composition, pitch situation and even things like the possible winner of a match.
Delhi Police recorded Goenka's statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in front of a magistrate. This bars him from retracting his statement.
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Kundra is Goenka's partner in his steel ingots manufacturing business called Ashwini Steel Private Limited in Ahmedabad.
Kundra was quizzed mainly on three aspects. He was asked about the capacity in which Goenka interacted with the management on team strategy, asking players other questions, and about the "open parties his team players attended" with the bookies at the team hotel.
Delhi Police also asked Kundra about his team's partnership and investment pattern since he only owns 11.7 percent in the team.
The Rajasthan Royals have four owners, including Kundra's wife and Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty.
The major stakes are held by Manoj Badale, Lachlan Murdoch and Suresh Chellaram.
If required, the Special Cell of Delhi Police may summon Shilpa Shetty and other team owners for questioning in the days to come.