Meiyappan, Vindoo now name a Chennai hotelier

Another new link has now emerged in the Indian Premier League betting scandal. A Chennai hotelier with betting links has been named by both actor Vindoo Dara Singh and BCCI chief N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan. Sources say this has been corroborated by Meiyappan and that the hotelier is also a key link to some Bollywood celebrities.

A Mumbai Police team conducted a search at Gurunath Meiyappan's residence in Chennai on Sunday. Police teams were seen taking away packets of documents from his residence.

Also read: CSK owner Meiyappan arrested in IPL betting case

This even as BCCI chief N Srinivasan claimed Gurunath Meiyappan had no stakes in the Chennai Super Kings. Sources tell CNN-IBN the police have recovered several items that link Meiyappan to the IPL team. Among the items recovered are his visiting cards that identify him as Team Principal, CSK stationary and merchandise.
 
Meanwhile, according to Crime branch sources, Meiyappan told the investigators that it was Vindoo who introduced him to betting. Police also collected Meiyappan's voice sample for verification of his alleged telephonic conversations with Vindoo. "Meiyappan and Vindoo were today made to sit face-to-face and were questioned," a senior Crime branch official said.

The BCCI has suspended N Srinivasan's son-in-law for any involvement in connection with the spot fixing controversy. Meiyappan is in police custody till May 29 over his alleged links to spot-fixing in the IPL.

On May 23, a Mumbai police team served summons on Meiyappan at his residence in connection with the spot fixing controversy. Meiyappan was in Kodaikanal at that time and the summons was received by his staff on his behalf.

Meiyappan has been linked to Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh, arrested earlier for links with bookies who are accused of manipulating IPL matches using inside information from tainted players and others.

Trying to ring fence CSK from the risk of its licence getting terminated, India Cements Ltd on May 24 issued a statement that Meiyappan is not the owner/CEO/team principal of IPL franchise, ostensibly to distance CSK from him and his actions.

However, the company did not issue any such statements when the media for the past several years called him the "team principal" or the owner of CSK.

(With additional information from PTI)