Briton arrested for cheating, fraud at Mohali Test

By Indo Asian News Service

Mohali, March 13 (IANS) A British national of Indian-origin was arrested by police here Monday on charges of cheating, fraud and impersonation during the second Test match between India and England that the hosts won.

Rajiv Moolchandani was also charged under the Gambling Act.

Meanwhile, embarrassed by the controversy, the host Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) ordered an inquiry into the episode. PCA president I.S. Bindra told reporters that an internal probe would be done to see how the punter got a media accreditation card.

The role of certain PCA officials, especially treasurer G.S. Walia, who gave the accreditation card to the punter without verifying his antecedents, would also be investigated by the police.

'It's a serious matter. The punter was sitting in the high-security zone where VIPs and players move openly. Anything could have happened,' a police official said.

Earlier, the 21-year-old Moolchandani was detained and questioned by police following complaints that he was a punter and had indulged in online betting.

He was turned out of the media box Sunday following complaints by other reporters that he was indulging in betting.

Claiming to be a British national, the 'freelance journalist' had told PCA officials he was representing the British media. He failed to furnish any documents to support his claim.

Even Walia had no answer to the fact that Moolchandani had been issued an accreditation card without supporting documents.

Moolchandani had access to the high-security pavilion block of the stadium for nearly four days. No complaint was made to the Mohali police despite the serious offence committed by him.

'The case was not even brought to our notice, let alone the filing of a complaint by PCA officials,' a police officer said.

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