Law Ministry for 3-7 yrs jail for spot, match fixing

NEW DELHI: The Law Ministry has proposed punishment ranging from three to seven years' jail for various "dishonest" practices in a sporting event, including spot- fixing and match-fixing.

The draft 'Dishonest Practice in Sporting Event (Prevention) Bill', submitted to the Sports Ministry, provides for punishment of up to three years in jail with fine for accepting gratification for fixing the result of a sporting event.

The punishment for performing dishonestly for fixing the result of a sporting event by accepting gratification is imprisonment which may extend up to seven years or fine or both.

Similar punishment has been prescribed for those influencing the performance of any player for performing dishonestly for fixing the result of any game.

The draft makes the offence non-bailable and applies to both domestic and international games.

Punishment has been prescribed for foreign players playing in Indian sporting events for accepting gratification, playing dishonestly and also betting in India.

The Sports Ministry, however, is not satisfied with the first draft of the proposed law and intends to carry out "extensive modification" to its contents.

Another name suggested for the proposed legislation is 'The Sporting Events (Prevention of Dishonest Practices) Bill, 2013'.