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Amid the spot-fixing shadow looming over Chennai Super Kings, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co landed in the city this afternoon ahead of the Pepsi IPL 6 summit clash here on Sunday.
While all the team officials and players' spouses were seen coming out of the airport, 'team CEO' Gurunath Meiyappan, normally seen with the players, was conspicuous by his absence.
Meiyappan, the son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, has been summoned by the Mumbai Police's Crime Branch for questioning in connection with the spot-fixing investigation.
With pressure building on the team, the proprietors India Cements meanwhile has distanced themselves from Meiyappan, claiming in a media statement that Meiyappan was neither the Owner, nor CEO/Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings.
Amid a strict police vigil, the players quietly checked into the team hotel where nobody was allowed inside unless there was a special permission from the team officials.
According to a senior police officer, people other than team members and the support staff, have been banned from meeting the players whether at the team hotel or at the stadium.
There was also an unprecedented vigil at the Eden Gardens with more than 200 close circuit cameras installed all over the stadium.
The police maintained a close watch on the lower tier of the BC Roy Club House where the dressing rooms are located, while jammers were put in place to curb cellphone communication, said a senior Cricket Association of Bengal official.
The IPL was rocked by the spot fixing case which came to light after Delhi Police arrested Rajasthan Royals cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan and 11 bookies in a post-midnight operation in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad on May 16.
Actor Vindoo Dara Singh was later arrested on Tuesday for involvement in betting.
Kolkata came under the scanner after the arrest of a film producer -- Ajit Surekha -- for being an alleged bookie.
