The Indian board issued a caution to all the stakeholders of the ongoing IPL.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly alerted all the stakeholders of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 about a businessman who might attempt to entice participants into potentially corrupt activities.
According to Cricbuzz, the IPL governing body, BCCI, has cautioned the owners, players, coaches, support staff, and even commentators that a businessman with dubious credentials is looking to trap people who are involved in the cash-rich tournament.
As per the Anti-Corruption Security Unit (ACSU), the businessman is from Hyderabad, who has links with punters, bookies and past and proven records of involvement in corrupt activities, is actively trying to befriend participants by masquerading as an ardent fan
In that regarded, the ACSU has urged all IPL teams to report any interactions with the businessman and also disclose any possible connections or engagements with him.
The reported further claimed that the businessman was allegedly spotted at the team hotels and in the matches, making efforts to befriend players and staff, and inviting potential targets to private parties. Not just players, he can bait the families of players by giving them gifts.
One of his methods is to approach family members of franchise owners, players, coaches, support staff, and even commentators. He is said to have been offering them jewellery as well.
The ACSU didn’t rule out chances of the businessman contacting relatives living abroad, often through social media platforms.
This development evoked memories of the tournament’s darkest phase, when in 2013, Delhi police arrested three players of Rajasthan Royals on charges of spot-fixing and betting. Later, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings also faced a two-year ban after a Supreme Court-appointed committee found evidence of corrupt activities against officials of the two franchises.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)