A drummer has been arrested on charges of attempted match-fixing in the recent Karnataka Premier League. Reportedly he approached many pacers and forced them to concede more runs by bowling loose deliveries.

A drummer arrested

The Central Crime Branch which currently investigating alleged match-fixing and betting scams during the recent KPL on Wednesday arrested Bhavesh Bafna, a resident of JP Nagar in Bengaluru. Bafna, a professional drummer was contracted by Bijapur Bulls for performing during KPL matches. But then he started to approach the pacers with the request of delivering loose balls. One such bowler from Bangalore playing for Ballari Tuskers filed a criminal complaint against Bafna. He also identified another person called Sanyam, accusing them of offering Rs 2 lakh and above for conceding runs.

Sanyam, bookie from Delhi is now being searched by the Central Crime Branch. The Joint commissioner of police (CCB) Sandeep Patil informed TOI about the situation and told that Bafna is being questioned currently. “We have taken Bafna into custody and are questioning him. The bowler told us that Bafna had asked him to concede more than 10 runs per over.”

How did they approach?

The CCB sources explained, “Thara spilled the beans, saying that Bafna would approach pacers and batsmen from different teams, requesting them to play poorly in different matches. Since Bafna was a drummer performing during KPL matches and had access to dressing rooms and players of all the teams, none suspected his visits to them during the matches.” Ali Asfak Thara, owner of Belagavi Panthers is currently in police custody on charges of betting on KPL matches.

According to the player, the childhood friend of him, Bhavesh Bafna asked him “to give away more than 10 runs in an over in certain matches of KPL for money” and he refused to the same. Then the player was introduced to Sanyam who “told me that I can earn a lot of money if I can give away runs by bowling loose deliveries. Again, I refused”, the player informed.

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