BENGALURU: The high court on Tuesday denied anticipatory bail to Ali Asfak Thara, owner of Belagavi Panthers, in connection with the
Karnataka Premier League
(
KPL
) match-fixing/spot-fixing scandal.
Justice KN Phaneendra dismissed the petition after the government advocate argued that the petitioner is still at large. He claimed the petitioner's custodial interrogation is necessary to ascertain his role in the scam.
In his petition, Asfak said he feared he would be arrested anytime and subjected to humiliation if anticipatory bail is not granted to him. He added that the allegation that he had paid money to the accused players to play in a particular manner is totally unfounded and without basis. He also said the players were not working under him. The trial court had rejected Asfak's similar plea on November 14.