Chennai:
There seems to be more trouble for Chennai-based hotelier Vikram Aggarwal who is wanted for interrogation in the IPL betting case. The Tamil Nadu Police is initiating legal action against him to ensure his interrogation after he failed to appear before the CB-CID (Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department) today, defying summons issued against him.
"Now we would take all legal action required to ensure Vikram Aggarwal is interrogated," said Raj Srinivas, DSP, CB-CID. He added, "This would include arrest too."
Earlier in the day, the Madras High Court had dismissed Mr Aggarwal's anticipatory bail plea.
Police claim Mr Aggarwal has close links with Kitty, one of the 10 Chennai-based bookies behind bars now. "Call records show Vikram Aggarwal and Kitty were together in a hotel Vikram owned during a few IPL matches and we want to ask him several questions," Narender Pal Singh, ADGP, CB-CID, told NDTV. When asked whether Mr Aggarwal was a punter or was using Kitty as a proxy, Mr Singh said, "Only interrogating him would fetch answers."
The Mumbai Police too have issued summons to Mr Aggarwal. They suspect that Mr Aggarwal actually introduced small-time actor Vindu Dara Singh to Gurunath Meiyappan. Both Vindoo and Mr Meiyappan are in police custody.
Meanwhile, Mr Aggarwal's whereabouts continue to be a mystery and his lawyers say they are exploring legal options.