Next edition of KPL only after corruption investigation is concluded, confirms KSCA official
Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) treasurer Vinay Mruthyunjaya has confirmed that the next edition of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) will be held only after the investigation into the multi-crore scam is complete. But Mruthyunjaya denied any connection between cheer girls and the KPL.
A Special Investigation Team of the Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru has launched an extensive investigation into the BCCI-approved T20 league. While initial probes indicated the use of honey traps to blackmail the cricketers with some cheer girls suspected of the same, the KSCA’s treasurer has refuted all ties to any cheer girls in the KPL.
"We will definitely not conduct the KPL tournament matches till the investigation is completed and the final report from the police comes out. The police asked for a lot of information pertaining to KPL tournament, teams, scorecards, video footage of all the matches, details of all the players, phone numbers. We will check up, we did not have any formidable information in this regard. Let me discuss with our officers also. We would not know, police would be knowing. KSCA never employs cheer girls, the teams employ the cheer girls," Mruthyunjaya told IANS.
Since the investigation began, Belagavi Panthers' owner Asfaq Ali Thara and six others — CM Gautam, Abrar Kazi, Nishant Singh Shekawat and Vishwanathan of Bengaluru Blasters, their bowling coach Vinu Prasad and Tuskers drummer Bhuvenash Bafna — have been arrested. The police have also booked Haryana-based bookie Sayyam, while also issuing a lookout circular against former Bellary Tuskers' owner Arvind Venkatesha Reddy.