UK court allows extradition of bookie Sanjeev Chawla - prime accused of 2000 match-fixing scandal

The United Kingdom High Court has cleared extradition of one of the prime accused of match-fixing scandal in 200, bookie Sanjeev Chawla. The Indian Government wanted to prosecute him over the allegations but the UK court had blocked their move in 2017 citing threats to Chawla’s human rights over the conditions in Tihar Jail in Delhi, However, the Indian Government has assured the court now on the same ground.

The year 2000 had rocked the cricketing fraternity with the match-fixing scandal. The prominent names like Hansie Cronje and Mohammad Azharuddin’s names had come up to shock everyone with the former accepting of getting bribed as well. Though the allegations on the former Indian captain Azhar were cleared later by court with the BCCI also lifting the ban on him.

Now that the court has allowed Sanjeev Chawla’s extradition, his case will be handed over to UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid for a formal extradition order according to the Economic Times.

Sanjeev had won the case in 2017

Sanjeev Chawla had moved to the UK in 1996 according to the court documents on a business visa and then obtained a UK passport then in 2005 to later become a British citizen. In the meantime, his Indian passport was revoked in 2000. He had won the case in 2017 against his extradition to India.

The Westminster Magistrates’ Court concluded that there was a threat to Sanjeev’s human rights in the Tihard Jail where he was to be held. However, more than a year later, the high court is now convinced with the assurances provided by the Indian Government in regards on the safety condition of the Jail. Eventually, it has quashed the lower court’s order against extraditing Chawla.

Chawla is accused of playing a prime role in the fixing of cricket matches during South Africa tour of India under Hansi Cronje’s captaincy in 1999-2000.

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