Sports fraud bill stays in cold storage as govt dithers
The bill contains provision for imprisonment of those indulging in any sporting fraud, directly or indirectly, for up to 5-6 years. Private companies are liable too.
Despite the 2013 IPL fixing scandal setting in motion a process to clean up Indian cricket thanks to individual efforts and public litigations, the government continues to dither on the Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill (2013). The proposed bill seeks jail term for players involved in corrupt practices in sports.
“Ever since I have taken charge, Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill and National Sports Development Bill has not been discussed in any cabinet meeting,” Vijay Goyal, MoS-Youth Affairs & Sports, told HT on Tuesday. “So there is no question of tabling it in the upcoming session.”
The winter session of the Parliament begins on Wednesday.
Last July, the law ministry had sent the draft bill back to sports ministry with some ‘amendments’.
It has been learnt that the amendments ensure every National Sports Federation (NSF) in India, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India, comes under the ambit of the proposed law. “The law ministry sent us the bill with some changes. We are working on it,” Goyal added.
Former chief justice of Punjab and Haryana high court, Mukul Mudgal, was assigned the task of drafting the bill following the 2013 spot-fixing scandal.
The bill contains provision for imprisonment of those indulging in any sporting fraud, directly or indirectly, for up to 5-6 years. Private companies (read IPL and other league teams) are liable too.
The bill states that ‘inside information’ and ‘manipulation or attempt to manipulate a sports result(s), irrespective of whether the outcome is actually altered or not’, will invite a jail term.
It also states that ‘willfully failing to perform to his or her true potential for economic or any other advantage or benefit for oneself or for others will also be punishable’.