New Delhi:
The Delhi police today played out intercepts of phone calls that they allege establish underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's links with spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The police claim that the tapes, played out as evidence mainly against Rajasthan Royals player Ajit Chandila, feature calls between Dawood Ibrahim and Javed Chotani - allegedly the key link between Dawood and Indian bookies - on March 26 this year. They discuss money and an unnamed minister.
The cops also played a taped conversation puportedly between Dawood and an informer or aide in February, where the two voices discuss the imminent arrest of a "London friend."
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But in none of the tapes, say the cops, is the Karachi and Dubai-based underworld boss heard directly mentioning spot-fixing.
A transcript of the purported conversation between Dawood and Javed in March, released by the Delhi Police, is reproduced below. The men on tape spoke in Hindi. This is a translation.
Javed Chotani: Bhai, he is offering 7 million to you.
Dawood Ibrahim: No, no, not for 7. Tell him nothing less than 8.
Javed: Ok, I will leave it at 8
Dawood: Yes, ask for 8 and leave it there.
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Javed: Sir, please do ask your minister about that.
Dawood: Careful. You will get into trouble if you mess with the minister.
Javed: Is he not the type to mess with?
Dawood: No, he is not. Will make you talk to him at night.
The Delhi Police is trying to establish an underworld connection in IPL spot fixing as it is opposing bail for seven people accused in the case, including the 29-year-old off-spinner Chandila. He is one of the three Royals players who were arrested for spot-fixing on May 16 and charged under the stringent the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
While Chandila is in custody, the other two players, S Sreesanth and Ankit Chavan, were granted bail on June 10 along with 18 bookies, due to lack of evidence under MCOCA.
Among the taped conversations played in court today is one in which Chandila purportedly talks to Javed Chotani, the man allegedly also taped talking to Dawood.
The cops now have to prove that the voices on the tapes belong to the accused. For that they will have to match voice samples. Dawood's alleged voice will be a problem; no Indian agency has a voice sample of his.