While Gurunath Meiyappan is the latest name to have come under scrutiny in the IPL spot-fixing scandal, Crime Branch sources say the tainted actor has acknowledged that he supplied girls to bookmakers in order to extract information for placing safe bets
Cops say small-time actor Vindu Dara Singh has been singing like a canary in the custody of Mumbai Crime Branch's Property Cell, and has admitted he supplied girls to bookies.
Also, Vindu had allegedly shared around 35 calls in one day with Gurunath Meiyappan - CEO of Chennai Super Kings and son-in law of BCCI chief and owner of the franchise N Srinivasan - the latest name to have come under the scanner in the IPL spot-fixing scandal. Cops have also recovered various photos of Vindu with several cricketers.
Police officials told MiD DAY that while the tainted actor has confessed to bringing girls for bookmakers, they are trying to ascertain whether or not he did the same for players. Sources said the girls, who were models, were used by him to keep the bookies happy and get tip-offs about match-fixing.
`We are likely to question the girls on Thursday. We also know that Vindu had shared around 35 calls in a single day with Gurunath Meiyappan, though he has been claiming these were all for personal reasons.
If required, we will summon Guru. Guru had met Vindu at a party in Chennai. Vindu was using five cellphones and we suspect he had called Guru from other numbers as well,` said a police source.
Cops revealed that Vindu operated under the alias 'Jack' in betting circles. He would draw trusty tips from bookies and players, and then invest the money of film stars in betting for which he used to get a commission.
Police have also found some evidence of Vindu being in touch with disgraced Rajasthan Royals player Ajit Chandila - who has been arrested by Delhi police - and may seek his custody as well.
Crime Branch officers yesterday conducted a raid at Vindu's Juhu residence, during which they found three phones owned by bookie Pawan Jaipur, an iPad and a laptop. Cops said Vindu had been in contact with Pawan for the last seven years.
`Vindu helped bookies Pawan Jaipur and Sanjay Jaipur escape. On May 15, they were taken to Mumbai airport in the actor's car and they managed to flee to Dubai,` said a source from Mumbai Crime Branch.
