ICC approaches MHA to deal with match-fixing

To deal with the malaise of match-fixing, spot-fixing and betting, the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit has approached the Union home ministry seeking help from the Indian government to provide assistance to deal with such offences. In a recent top secret meeting, head of ICC’s anti-corruption unit met the Union home secretary Anil Goswami. The ICC wants the Indian government to assist their Anti-Corruption body by providing the Anti-Corruption Security Unit a permanent connectivity with a central law enforcement agency which has a countrywide jurisdiction to coordinate on all fixing and betting related offences, sources said. While the MHA has promised to examine the matter, it has conveyed that till such time betting and fixing are made specific criminal offences under the law, the MHA will coordinate with all agencies concerned to ensure complaints are addressed suitably and action is taken, the sources said. Presently, the ICC does not have any direct liaison with any Indian law enforcement agency which makes it an uphill task for them to coordinate with any of the agencies concerned to tackle such crimes. Incidentally, the ICC’s meeting with the MHA comes at the beginning of the new international cricketing season in the country and abroad. The ICC’s anti-corruption body claims that it continues to receive on a regular basis actionable inputs about alleged fixing practices in various international tournaments and matches, the sources said. “Once it is able to liaison with an Indian law enforcement agency, it will become easier for the body to crack down on crimes committed on and off field,” a government official said. Sources pointed out that the only such agency available to the government to deal with such offences is the CBI. The CBI’s contention is that unless betting and fixing are made specific criminal offences under the law, it is extremely difficult for the central agency to act in a sustained manner against the offenders , an official said. The MHA has decided to examine the matter in detail with all concerned agencies and in the meanwhile will act as the nodal agency itself.