Mumbai:
Vindu Dara Singh, the actor who was arrested by the Mumbai Police during their investigation into the spot-fixing scandal, was today sent to police custody till May 31. Vindu was presented before a court in Mumbai which extended his custody.
Shortly after the court verdict, Vindu's wife Dina Umarova said her husband is being victimised. "He has admitted he was betting. He has told them everything. So why are they still holding him?" said Dina.
"You all created a big issue about my husband who is the greatest man I met in all my life with a big and golden heart. His is a bailable offence, but Vindu is being victimised by political issues in India," she added.
Vindu was arrested on May 21 for his alleged links with bookies, suspected of spot-fixing IPL games. He has been charged with cheating and forgery.
After his arrest, the actor allegedly told the police that he got into betting through a friend, Anand, who used to be a bookie. He claimed he knows Anand for years now.
The 49-year-old actor also admitted to the Mumbai Police that he helped two bookies, Pawan Jaipur and Sanjay Jaipur, escape to Dubai, sources said.
The two bookies had checked into a hotel arranged by the actor and went to the airport in his car, sources add. The two bookies, reportedly, are his favourite.
Vindu also allegedly told the police that he placed bets on behalf of Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI chief N Srinivasan. Mr Meiyappan was arrested on May 24.
He was questioned for nearly two hours at the Crime Branch office on Friday. Sources claim that during his questioning Mr Meiyappan admitted to having placed bets, but blamed Vindu for it. Mr Meiyappan said he placed bets at the insistence of Vindu, claimed sources.
Vindu has also named some Bollywood personalities, according to sources.