In an interesting development in the ongoing match-fixing controversy, which was raked up by a British newspaper on Sunday, the name of a little known model-cum-actress has come up in connection with the match-fixing racket.
Contrary to reports of a “Bollywood starlet” being involved in the racket, the name that came up on Monday was of Nupur Mehta, a Mumbai-based model who has also acted in the 2005 movie Jo Bole So Nihaal, which starred Sunny Deol and Shilpi Sharma.
“The name that is cropping in the case is that of Nupur Mehta. She is a model and might have worked in a few films,” said a crime branch officer requesting anonymity.
“I am nowhere connected to any match fixing nor am I connected to any bookie syndicate. I don’t know any cricketer in person nor have dealt with any bookie or attended any matches in past. In fact, I am perplexed to know how my name has surfaced in this controversy,” Ms Mehta said, speaking to reporters at a coffee shop in Andheri on Monday.
She added that she plans to sue the British newspaper that has used her picture, and that she is ready to cooperate with the authorities whenever they approach her in connection with their investigation into the match-fixing scam.
The Mumbai police, however, remained noncommittal on the entire issue.
“We have not been approached by the ICC in the matter. It has its own investigation wing that is headed by senior IPS officer Y.P. Singh. Generally, ICC caries out its own investigations and if necessary they lodge a complaint with the local police. In this case, the match was played at Mohali and so if a case will be registered, it will be at Mohali,” said joint commissioner of police, crime.