Even as the nexus between syndicates centred in India and match fixing has blown up yet again in the face of cricket's administrators, a trial court in Delhi has suggested that betting in cricket and other sports should be legalised in the country.
The court made its remarks while allowing an appeal by two accused who were held guilty of organising 'satta' in the World Cup match between Australia and South Africa in 2007 by a lower court. The court cited lack of sufficient evidence while allowinmg the appeal.
"It is high time that our legislature should seriously consider legalising the entire system of betting online or otherwise so that enough revenues can be generated to fund various infrastructural requirements for the common man and thus check the lucrative business in organised crime," the court said.
Citing a media report, the court said more than Rs 200 billion were pumped in by betting syndicates in Indian Premier League matches last year.
"A little surfing on the internet would reveal that in Delhi alone there would be operating as many as 2,000-3,000 bookies at any given point of time when cricket matches or even other matches are played all over the world. This could not be done under the very nose of police without their knowledge," the court said.
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