Former Delhi police commissioner, Neeraj Kumar is being criticised after Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandalia were given clean chit by Delhi’s Patiala court in 2013 spot fixing charges on Saturday.
Kumar was the commissioner of Delhi Police, when these three cricketers were arrested on charges of spot-fixing in IPL cricket. Curiously though, he’s now acting as the chief advisor to BCCI’s anti-corruption unit.
Experts and social media users are already sharpening their knives against Kumar questioning his ability to perform in his new role with the BCCI.
User @jgopikrishnan70 on twitter was quite explicit in expresing his anger against Kumar;
Sreesanth Discharge – What former Delhi Thulla Chief Neeraj Kumar have to say? His Liyaqat case also found fraud
— J Gopikrishnan (@jgopikrishnan70) July 25, 2015
User @spandey2004 wrote:
https://twitter.com/spandey2004/status/624919961522208768
User @rajkshroff called this an outcome of Delhi police’s inefficiency:
Neeraj kumar n then Bassi…perfect example of corrupt inefficient police..Police reform will media raise voice https://t.co/USUXpcZEBo
— Raj (@rajkshroff) July 25, 2015
For user @venkatananth it was the sign of good things. His sarcastic tweet read;
The Delhi Police Comm when the IPL spot-fixing case came to light, Neeraj Kumar is now the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption consultant. Good signs.
— Venkat Ananth (@venkatananth) July 25, 2015
According to a Delhi police offficer, who requested not to be identified, the verdict by Patiala court dropping charges against the trio with 33 others is quite embarrassing for the police force.
He said, “Rightly so, we will be asked questions about our ability to present robust case against these players charged with spot-fixing. from Neeraj Kumar to the current establishment, we all are responsible for this botch up. Clearly, we didn’t appear to have fought this case with as much sincerity as we ought to have done.”
The BCCI had imposed life-ban on these three players after names were revealed for allegedly agreeing to manipulate the outcome of cricket matches in the IPL. It’s unlikely that the Indian cricket board will reverse its decision.