In a shocking turn of events, former Indian cricketer S Sreesanth has found himself embroiled in a cheating case registered by the Kerala Police.
The complaint, filed by Kannur resident Sareesh Gopalan, alleges that Sreesanth, along with two others, Rajiv Kumar and Venkatesh Kini, duped him of ₹18.70 lakh under the pretext of constructing a sports academy in Karnataka's Kollur.
Gopalan claims that the accused promised him partnership in the proposed sports academy and convinced him to invest in the venture.
However, no progress has been made towards the construction of the academy, and the complainant alleges that the trio failed to return the substantial sum.
Sreesanth Named as third accused
Sreesanth, who had a distinguished cricket career tainted by a ban in 2013 for spot-fixing during IPL season 6, now faces accusations as the third accused in this cheating case.
The police have invoked Section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the former cricketer.
A rollercoaster journey
Sreesanth's journey in the world of cricket has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Banned for life by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2013, he faced charges of spot-fixing alongside two Rajasthan Royals teammates.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the Supreme Court reduced his lifetime ban to seven years in 2019, allowing him to make a comeback.
Comeback and subsequent retirement
After completing his ban in September 2020, Sreesanth returned to cricket and even featured in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2021 for the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA).
Despite his efforts, he faced disappointment in the IPL auctions of 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the veteran bowler announced his retirement from all formats of the game, leaving behind a legacy marked by both triumphs and controversies.
