KPL scandal: HC grants bail to CM Gautam, Abrar Kazi

Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court granted bail two top state-level cricketers, who were arrested in the KPL match-fixing scandal.

CM Gautam, Abrar Kazi top state-level cricketers obtained regular bail, while the owner of the Ballari Tuskers KPL team, Aravind Reddy secured anticipatory bail.

A single-judge bench of Justice K N Phaneendra, who was hearing the criminal petitions filed by the accused players imposed several conditions before granting them bail. The conditions included depositing a bond surety of Rs 2 lakh each.

The advocate for the petitioners argued that the police have arrested them without proper evidence and registered an FIR on the assumption of offence.

The court granted anticipatory bail to Reddy with conditions, including restrictions to travel abroad, for which Reddy must obtain permission from the jurisdictional court.

The KPL spot-fixing scandal came to light when Bhavesh Gulecha, bowler of Ballari Tuskers, lodged a complaint with the police against an International bookie Sayyam and drummer Bhavesh Bafna.