Hope politics, sports don't get mixed up: Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday refrained from commenting on the ongoing IPL spotfixing controversy saying investigations were underway but hoped politics and sports don't get mixed up.

"I wouldn't like to comment on this issue. This matter is under investigation and it won't be proper for me to comment at this stage of investigation. I would only hope that politics and sports don't get mixed up," he told reporters on his way back from Japan and Thailand.

He was asked whether the time has come for government to intervene as BCCI chief N Srinivasan has refused to step down from the position in the wake of his son-in-law being dragged into the scandal, saying he had done no wrong.

The spot-fixing scandal broke out on May 16 when Delhi Police arrested three Rajasthan Royals players -- Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan -- and bookies from Mumbai and Delhi for allegedly manipulating certain parts of matches.

A total of 26 people, including former players, were arrested from various parts of the country since May 16 by Delhi Police while their Mumbai counterparts arrested Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh among others on charges of betting.

The clamour for embattled Srinivasan's resignation in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal continued to grow with several state cricket associations joining the chorus for his ouster.