Sreesanth sent to judicial custody

Sreesanth, the India and Rajasthan Royals seamer arrested on charges of spot-fixing, has been remanded in judicial custody by a Delhi court till June 4. Sreesanth had been placed in police custody, and the Delhi Police had sought a two-day extension.

Sreesanth had applied for bail on May 26. He was one of three Royals cricketers - Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila being the others - arrested on May 16, following which they were suspended by the BCCI pending an inquiry. Chavan's bail plea in order to get married on June 2 was rejected by a Delhi court and he will also remain in judicial custody until June 4.

Royals had suspended the contracts of all three players and also filed a police complaint against them. The players were allegedly promised money ranging from US$36,000 to 109,000 by bookies for each over of under-performance.

Eleven bookies were also arrested along with the three players on May 16. One of the middlemen was identified as Jiju Janardhan, described by the police as Sreesanth's close friend and team-mate at the Ernakulam club. Delhi Police had registered cases under the Indian Penal Code section 420 and 120B, which deal with fraud, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.