Spot fixing: Supreme Court agrees to hear PIL to stay IPL matches

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today agreed to give an urgent hearing to a PIL seeking stay on all remaining matches of IPL in view of the spot-fixing scandal.

A bench of justices B S Chauhan and Deepak Misra posted the matter for further hearing at 2 PM on the PIL which is also seeking setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the issues of match fixing and other alleged irregularities in the IPL.

The petition by Lucknow resident Sudarsh Awasthi has made all IPL franchises and BCCI party in the case along with the Centre.

"There are many irregularities in the IPL beginning from auction of players. Black money and money from anti-social elements are involved in the IPL which needs to be probed," the petition submitted.

It sought a stay on remaining four matches including final match of the IPL till the probe is completed.

Eighteen people -- three IPL players, four former players and 11 bookies and their assistants -- have been arrested since last Thursday in connection with the spot-fixing scandal that has rocked the cricketing world.