The Delhi Court has entirely dropped the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013 spot-fixing case involving the trio of cricketers -- S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- due to lack of evidence.
The huge announcement was made by the Delhi Court at Patiala House today afternoon, and the Court has also discharged all 16 accused, along with the 20 others, who had been named by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in their chargesheet, in the IPL spot fixing case.
Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim as well as his aide Chhota Shakeel were also accused in the infamous spot-fixing case that took place in IPL 2013.
Today's verdict has come as a sigh of huge relief to the under-pressure Rajasthan Royals cricketers, and Sreesanth is now hoping for a comeback to the national team, although the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has banned the players.
"No regrets, no complaints against anybody, God-willing I will return to cricket," a teary-eyed Rajasthan Royals pacer Sreesanth told NDTV.
"I am thankful to God, I want to start training again and hopefully should get BCCI's permission too. I will make sure am fully fit. I will bowl those outswingers again."
Off-spin bowler Chandila shared the same sentiments.
"It was a bad dream for me and my family, I am very happy today," the Faridabad lad told to the ANI.
In 2013, the police had investigated and found telephonic conversations among the players and bookies to establish their spot-fixing and betting charges, and following the revelation, the Special Cell of Delhi Police carried out raids in Mumbai on May 2013.
It was then that the the Royals trio were charged for spot-fixing, along with 42 others.
It was also only on 14 July this year that a Supreme Court-appointed panel headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha, suspended IPL franchisees Royals and Chennai Super Kings for two years, due to involvements in betting.
The respective team owners - Gurunath Meiyappan (Chennai) and Raj Kundra (Rajasthan) - were also banned for life from all cricketing activities for their alleged involvement in the betting.
