The spot-fixing probe has now reached the doorstep of Rajasthan Royals owners. Delhi police special cell officials Wednesday questioned team owner Raj Kundra and his close friend and business partner Umesh Goenka for over 10 hours. The police said Mr Kundra and Mr Goenka were summoned after Rajasthan Royals player Siddharth Trivedi, now a prosecution witness, claimed Mr Goenka had asked questions of the players. Mr Goenka’s statement was recorded under Section 164 CrPC in a magisterial court.
“Trivedi told us Goenka used to ask about pitch reports, team composition and possibilities of winning from him and other team members. Goenka is a close friend of Kundra and asked key questions in the dressing room. Kundra invited Goenka for matches and after-match parties,” a senior police official said. Trivedi was also called for questioning and confronted with Mr Kundra and Mr Goenka.
Mr Kundra and Mr Goenka have been friends for 15 years. Mr Goenka lives in West Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh and is a neighbour of Mr Kundra’s maternal uncle. The police said Mr Kundra has 11.7 per cent shares in Rajasthan Royals.
“The team is owned by four persons, including Kundra, Suresh Chellaram and Manoj Badale, but Kundra is the person most closely involved with team activities and he has watched all Royals matches except one. Chellaram is a brother-in-law of former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi,” the official said. Mr Goenka also has a 16 per cent stake in Mr Kundra’s steel business.
The official added: “Kundra claimed he was unaware of the alleged spot-fixing going on under his nose. In the team hotel in Mumbai, the owners had put a check on any suspicious person meeting players, but the players called in some people claiming they were personal guests.”