Rajasthan Royals team owner Raj Kundra has asked the media to stop using "derogatory statements" in view of reports that he has surrendered his passport to the police, who have reportedly asked him not to leave the country after the interrogation on Wednesday.
Kundra was summoned for questioning by Delhi police on Wednesday in connection with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013 spot-fixing scandal that has rattled the cricket world.
Television channels reported that Delhi police had asked Kundra to surrender his passport and forbade him from leaving the country until the probe into the spot-fixing scandal is completed. Times Now reported that the Rajasthan Royals team owner has admitted to betting in the IPL for the last two to three years.
However, the Kundra family is miffed by the media reports.
"Good morning woke up to news raj kundra faces the heat (times now) yes it's very hot in Mumbai. Media has misconstrued everything using...Unreliable sources. Try speaking to the Main guys at crime branch. Why does media hype things and make such stupid claims to sell news," tweeted Kundra.
"Is there an arrest warrant? I am back home in Mumbai. Kindly let Delhi crime branch do their work. media stop using derogatory statements."
He said that his "visit to crime branch was to help them in the case!"
Bollywood actress and Kundra's wife, Shilpa Shetty, also took to Twitter to vent her anger over the media reports, terming them as "annoying and distressing".
"STOP PRESS" literally! Getting on my nerves to c to wht extent the press wud go to make Headlines!Its annoying n distressing fr family..to c news misconstrued n misreported. Pls spk 2 the Real officials in charge and get the REAL story rather than ure PAID (unreliable)sources," Shilpa tweeted.
"Really upset with the media fr casting aspersions without any proof, making derogatory statements..Uncalled for and will not be tolerated.:("
Several sections of the media reported that Kundra was questioned on whether he was aware of any link between his team members and the bookies. Sources also said that Rajasthan Royals member Sidharth Trivedi claimed that Kundra's business partner, Umesh Goenka asked him about the pitch and playing XI before an IPL match in Ahmedabad.
Three Rajasthan Royals players - S Sreesanth, Ashok Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, were arrested on 16 May after being accused of underperforming in certain overs in exchange for lakhs of rupees from bookies.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police Special Cell has slapped the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against all the 26 arrested accused, claiming that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his associate Chhotta Shakeel are controlling the betting racket.
The court on Tuesday rejected Sreesanth's bail plea and asked him to file a fresh bail plea after the police invoked MCOCA against the accused.
The Chennai Super Kings team is also being investigated after Mumbai police arrested its alleged Team Principal Gurunath Meiyappan on 24 May in connection with the betting scandal. He was released on bail on Tuesday.
