2 Karnataka cricketers arrested in KPL betting case sent to 7-day police custody

Agencies

November 8, 2019

Bengaluru, Nov 8: Two cricketers accused of receiving money in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) betting case were remanded to seven-day police custody for interrogation, an officer said on Friday.

"A local court on Thursday sent C.M. Gautam and Abrar Kazi of Bellary Tuskers to police custody till November 13 to question their alleged involvement in the multi-crore international betting case for spot fixing, in the KPL matches," Bengaluru city Crime Branch Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) S.M. Nagaraj told IANS in Bengaluru.

Former Karnataka Ranji wicketkeeper-batsman Gautam and his teammate Kazi were arrested early on Thursday under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code.

On Wednesday, Bengaluru Blasters batsman Nishant Singh Shekawat was arrested for allegedly being in touch with unidentified bookies and contacting his team's bowing coach N. Vinu Prasad to fix players, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sandeep Patil told reporters in Bengaluru.

In a related development, KSCA suspended Gautam and Kazi from all activities in the state and barred both of them from using its facilities at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium in the city centre.

"We have suspended Gautam and Kazi from all forms of cricket until the completion of inquiry. After the inquiry, stringent action will be taken if found guilty," Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) treasurer Vinay Mruthyunjaya told IANS.

In addition to the two players, Mruthyunjaya said Prasad, Vishwanathan and Shekhawat were also suspended.

Since the investigation began after Belagavi Panthers' owner Asfaq Ali Thara was arrested on September 25, six persons have been taken into custody -- Gautam, Kazi, Shekawat and Vishwanathan of Bengaluru Blasters, their bowling coach Vinu Prasad and Tuskers drummer Bhuvenash.

The KSCA runs the KPL T-20 tournament every year on the lines of the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) T-20 tournament by the cash-rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The KPL tournament for 2019 was held from August 16-31.

The KPL has seven teams representing prominent cities and towns across the southern state, including Bengaluru Blasters, Bellary Tuskers, Bijapur Bulls, Hubli Tigers, Mysuru Warriors and Namma Shivamogga squad.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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