CBI to form Sports Fraud Investigation unit to combat crime and corruption in Indian sports

CBI Director Ranjit Sinha

As per a recent announcement by the agency’s director Ranjit Sinha, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is preparing to set up a new ‘Sports Fraud Investigation Unit’ to investigate sports-related crimes in India.

The director confirmed the same while speaking at a workshop in New Delhi which was organised to discuss matters relating to tracking match-fixing and corruption in football.

The unit will be a part of the Special Crime Branch of the CBI.

“We, in CBI, have taken due notice of growing menace of corruption in sports in general and challenges in football and other sports in particular…Very soon we shall set up a sports fraud investigation unit in the CBI under special crime branches,” Mr. Sinha said while making his keynote speech.

“It (the unit) shall coordinate with other law enforcement agencies of the world and act as a nodal agency to coordinate with states’ police forces. It shall be our endeavour to liaise and coordinate with sports federations to build capabilities to tackle match fixing and corrupt practices,” he added.

The announcement comes in the wake of rampant corruption and match-fixing scandals in various sports in India, most notably cricket, which was marred last year with the arrest of IPL players for their involvement in spot-fixing.

This certainly seems like a step in the right direction, and is sure to appease the ardent sport followers across the country.