Two Arrested in Nepal Premier League Match-Fixing Scandal

The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office has arrested two individuals on suspicion of offering match-fixing proposals to players competing in the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The arrests were made in Lazimpat following an investigation into the integrity of the tournament.

The arrested suspects have been identified as 28-year-old Dilpreet Singh, a resident of Ranimahal Panipat, Haryana, India, and 24-year-old Rebika Singh Thakuri, a resident of Magaragadi, Barbardiya Municipality-8, Bardiya, who currently resides in Chandigarh, India. The individuals were allegedly found to be contacting NPL players with illegal proposals.

According to a Crime Investigation Office official, the suspects proposed to a specific player that they intentionally get run out during a match. In exchange for deliberately being dismissed, the player was allegedly offered a sum of one crore Nepali Rupees.

The targeted player, however, rejected the offer and promptly reported the incident to the police. This immediate notification provided the necessary information for the Crime Investigation Office to initiate an investigation and subsequently apprehend the two suspects.

The initial approach, according to investigators, was made by Ms. Thakuri through social media platforms like Instagram, where she contacted approximately six to seven NPL players under the pretense of offering sponsorship. She later met with one of the players who had responded, bringing Mr. Singh to a meeting on December 1st. During this meeting, they explicitly made the match-fixing proposal.

The police have also indicated that the two suspects were involved in illegal betting activities, reportedly using WhatsApp and Instagram to facilitate gambling. Following their arrest, both individuals have been transferred to the District Police Complex in Bhadrakali, Kathmandu, for further investigation and legal action, as confirmed by Crime Investigation Office Spokesperson Superintendent of Police Kaji Kumar Acharya.