"Ex-Commissioner's Warning: Sreesanth's Case Exposes India's Need for Sports Corruption Laws"

 Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar has raised concerns about the lack of seriousness in addressing corruption in Indian sports, particularly highlighted by the case of tainted former cricketer S Sreesanth. Kumar, who played a significant role in the arrest of Sreesanth and other Rajasthan Royals cricketers on spot-fixing charges during the 2013 IPL, emphasized the absence of specific laws against corruption in sports in India. Despite strong evidence against Sreesanth, the Supreme Court eventually reduced his punishment from a life ban to a seven-year suspension, which ended in September 2020.

According to Kumar, the absence of laws specifically targeting corruption in sports creates significant challenges in prosecuting such cases. He pointed out that without clear laws, proving cases of corruption becomes difficult, especially in instances like match-fixing where identifying direct victims can be challenging.

Efforts to introduce legislation against sporting fraud have been underway in India since 2013, with the Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill (2013) being tabled in Lok Sabha in 2018. The bill, drafted by Justice (retd) Mukul Mudgal, aimed to impose stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for those found guilty of sporting fraud, including match-fixing.

Kumar also highlighted his disillusionment with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), stating that during his tenure as the chief of BCCI's Anti Corruption Unit, the board showed indifference towards addressing corruption in cricket. Despite limited resources, Kumar's team successfully cracked down on private leagues that were breeding grounds for corruption.

Reflecting on his experiences, Kumar emphasized the urgent need for anti-corruption laws in sports and expressed hope that the ongoing legal proceedings regarding Sreesanth's case would reach a conclusive resolution. He also underscored the need for greater seriousness in addressing corruption in cricket and other sports to uphold the integrity of the game.