An Indian co owner of a Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise has been ordered to remain in prison after being accused of attempting to bribe players for match fixing. A Sri Lankan court directed that Manjot Kalra, co owner of the Jaffna Kings, be held in custody until the end of the month while authorities continue their investigation.
According to Sri Lanka’s Sports Investigation Unit, Kalra was arrested at a hotel in Colombo while he was allegedly preparing to hand over 9.5 million Sri Lankan rupees, approximately $28,700, to a player. Investigators also claimed that four other Sri Lankan cricketers had been approached by Kalra in the days leading up to his arrest as part of the alleged fixing attempt.
Authorities confirmed that another individual believed to be involved in the case has also been detained and will remain in police custody as investigations continue. Officials are examining the full extent of the alleged corruption network connected to the tournament.
Despite the high profile arrest, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that the Lanka Premier League will continue as scheduled. The governing body reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of the competition and stated that it has zero tolerance for corruption, misconduct, or match fixing involving players, officials, team owners, or any other stakeholders.
The latest incident adds to a series of corruption related controversies that have affected the Lanka Premier League in recent years. Earlier this year, Tamim Rahman, owner of the Dambulla Thunders, received a four year prison sentence, a five year suspension from cricket related activities, and a substantial financial penalty after being convicted of attempting to influence players and organize match fixing.
Sri Lanka introduced strict anti corruption laws in sports in 2019 to combat illegal betting and match manipulation. Authorities say these regulations have strengthened investigations and prosecutions, while cricket officials continue working to preserve the credibility of domestic and international competitions.
