MUMBAI: The Mumbai police crime branch claimed to have unearthed fresh evidence linking Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf to the IPL betting racket in which Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan, actor Vindoo Dara Singh and several bookies have been arrested.
In a remand application filed before the Esplanade court by the Crime Branch seeking further police custody of Vindoo and co-accused Alpesh Patel and Prem Taneja, it was alleged that Rauf was allegedly in constant touch with bookies Pawan and Sanjay Jaipur as well as Vindoo.
Pawan had allegedly given Rauf a SIM card to use while contacting him, and it was used by Rauf to communicate with Pawan and Sanjay. Cime Branch officers said that they are considering initiating the process to try and get Rauf to India for investigation. Vindoo, Patel and Taneja were remanded to police custody till May 31.
"When the Delhi police arrested three cricket players and five bookies on May 16, Vindoo called up Rauf and asked him if he has seen the news. When Rauf replied in the affirmative, Vindoo told him to destroy the SIM card as matters had become 'hot'. Rauf subsequently left for Pakistan on May 21," said an officer.
A senior crime branch official said, "We now have reason to believe that Asad Rauf has suspicious links with the bookies wanted in this case, and that he associated himself with them in a manner that needs looking into. We will be investigating further in that direction."
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