VB Chandrasekhar's suicide led police to investigate TNPL betting probe: Report

The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) has run into deep trouble post as the tournament is severely being hit by charges of betting and fixing. A couple of first-class cricketers and coaches have come under the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit's scanner for suspected match-fixing.

As reported by The Times of India, police sources have revealed that they discovered information about a possible betting racket while investigating the suicide of former Indian national cricketer and TNPL team owner VB Chandrasekhar.

"Though those were not directly related to the suicide case, we recorded some of the important facts and passed on to our colleagues in Mumbai and Delhi," a senior police officer said.

The 57-year-old, who committed suicide last month was the owner of a Tamil Nadu Premier League team-- VB Kanchi Veerans and also ran a cricket academy-- VC's nest.

The BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit also revealed that a few TNPL players were approached for match-fixing.

“During the TNPL, some players were being approached for fixing but they reported the Anti Corruption Unit at that very moment, which led to an immediate inquiry and ACU is searching out the people who approached the players for such illegal activity,” said ACU chief Ajit Singh.

PS Raman, the TNPL governing council chairman also confirmed that a complaint against alleged malpractices in the league was brought to their notice during the event, forcing them to form a three-member committee to look into the issue.

"On receiving the complaint, we immediately formed a three-member committee to inquire into the issue. We are not authorized to divulge the details pertaining to the complaint until the findings of the report have been submitted," Raman was quoted by The Times of India.

The committee, comprising of a police officer and a senior advocate, was formed after the TNPL-4 final on August 15. "We are expecting the report in the coming weeks," Raman further added.