Super Kings in super mess, Srinivasan’s son-in-law is now under police scanner
23 May 2013 1:58 PM IST
With more murky dealings emerging during the custodial interrogation of Vindoo Randhawa, Mumbai Police that is probing the IPL betting scandal may question BCCI president N Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, the CEO and Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), with whom the arrested actor was in ‘frequent touch.’ CSK is owned by India Cements Limited, which is headed by Srinivasan, who’s also the vice-chairman of the company.
Son of wrestler and actor Dara Singh, Vindoo, according to joint commissioner (crime) Himanshu Roy, was deeply involved in betting, earning Rs 17 lakh through the banned activity this year, and had even helped two bookies escape from India.
Vindoo, sources in the crime branch said, had told interrogators he came into contact with Gurunath five-six years ago. ‘Vindoo told us he met Gurunath at a party thrown for cricketers and the two knew each other since then. Vindoo spoke to him over the phone on several occasions. Vindoo also claimed Gurunath did not have much knowledge about cricket but all this needs verification. However, it was ‘too premature’ to conclude that Gurunath was himself involved in betting,’ said sources. ‘Vindoo made several calls to Gurunath. We may call the person in question to ascertain the reasons why these frequent calls were made,’ an officer involved in the probe said. According to Roy, the tainted actor had admitted to having facilitated the escape of two bookies, Pawan Jaipur and Sanjay Jaipur, to Dubai from Mumbai on 17 May.
After Mumbai police busted an international betting racket with the arrest of key bookie Ramesh Vyas and three others on 14 May, Pawan and Sanjay had gone underground to evade arrest. ‘Pawan and Sanjay landed in Mumbai on 16 May and checked into a posh hotel in suburban Juhu with the help of Vindoo. The next day, Vindoo drove them to the international airport in his car and the duo fled to Dubai,’ another crime branch officer said. Roy said the actor’s Juhu residence was searched and one laptop, one iPad and three mobile phones belonging to Pawan, were confiscated. The data are being analysed.
WHO’S GURUNATH MEIYAPPAN
Gurunath Meiyappan is married to BCCI chief N Srinivasan’s daughter Rupa who is the director of India Cements Limited, the company which owns IPL franchise CSK. Srinivasan as ICL’s vice-chairman and MD. He hails from an affluent South Indian family which owns the oldest surviving studio in India, AVM, a high-profile film and TV serial production house in South India house.
Son of wrestler and actor Dara Singh, Vindoo, according to joint commissioner (crime) Himanshu Roy, was deeply involved in betting, earning Rs 17 lakh through the banned activity this year, and had even helped two bookies escape from India.
Vindoo, sources in the crime branch said, had told interrogators he came into contact with Gurunath five-six years ago. ‘Vindoo told us he met Gurunath at a party thrown for cricketers and the two knew each other since then. Vindoo spoke to him over the phone on several occasions. Vindoo also claimed Gurunath did not have much knowledge about cricket but all this needs verification. However, it was ‘too premature’ to conclude that Gurunath was himself involved in betting,’ said sources. ‘Vindoo made several calls to Gurunath. We may call the person in question to ascertain the reasons why these frequent calls were made,’ an officer involved in the probe said. According to Roy, the tainted actor had admitted to having facilitated the escape of two bookies, Pawan Jaipur and Sanjay Jaipur, to Dubai from Mumbai on 17 May.
After Mumbai police busted an international betting racket with the arrest of key bookie Ramesh Vyas and three others on 14 May, Pawan and Sanjay had gone underground to evade arrest. ‘Pawan and Sanjay landed in Mumbai on 16 May and checked into a posh hotel in suburban Juhu with the help of Vindoo. The next day, Vindoo drove them to the international airport in his car and the duo fled to Dubai,’ another crime branch officer said. Roy said the actor’s Juhu residence was searched and one laptop, one iPad and three mobile phones belonging to Pawan, were confiscated. The data are being analysed.
WHO’S GURUNATH MEIYAPPAN
Gurunath Meiyappan is married to BCCI chief N Srinivasan’s daughter Rupa who is the director of India Cements Limited, the company which owns IPL franchise CSK. Srinivasan as ICL’s vice-chairman and MD. He hails from an affluent South Indian family which owns the oldest surviving studio in India, AVM, a high-profile film and TV serial production house in South India house.
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