Bookie Sanjeev Chawla, key accused in 2000 match-fixing scandal, brought back to India for trial

Sanjeev Chawla has been extradited to India from the UK. The flight carrying bookie Sanjeev Chawla landed in Delhi an hour before its scheduled time on Thursday.

Bookie Sanjeev Chawla, a key accused in the 2000 match-fixing scandal involving South African cricket superstars, has been extradited from the UK. Officers of Delhi Police escorted Sanjeev Chawla to Delhi on Thursday morning.

The flight carrying Sanjeev Chawla landed in Delhi an hour before its scheduled time. Sanjeev Chawla has been brought back to India from the UK.

Earlier it was reported that Scotland Yard officers were preparing to hand over bookie Sanjeev Chawla to Delhi Police to face match-fixing charges in India.

The 50-year-old British national is a key accused in the match-fixing scandal involving former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje in 2000.

According to officials familiar with the extradition proceedings, the final legal paperwork in the case is now being concluded for the handover to take place at Heathrow Airport this week.

“We can only issue a statement when the extradition has taken place,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Wednesday.

On his arrival, he is expected to undergo the requisite medical examinations before being taken to Tihar Jail and held in custody in accordance with the Indian government’s assurances to the UK courts.

This would mark the first high-profile extradition of its kind under the India-UK Extradition Treaty, signed in 1992.

Sanjeev Chawla is alleged to have played a central role in conspiring with Hansie Cronje, the late South African cricket team captain, to fix a South African tour to India in February-March 2000.