Match-fixing is not a crime in India. BCCI has approached SC to change that, Pg14.

Key Highlights:

• The BCCI has approached the Supreme Court seeking to criminalize match-fixing under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
• The case stems from alleged match-fixing in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) in 2018 and 2019.
• The Karnataka High Court quashed criminal proceedings against the accused, stating match-fixing is a breach of BCCI's code, not a criminal offense.
• The BCCI argues match-fixing deceives the public, inducing them to spend money on tickets and sponsorships.

Detailed Insights:

• Currently, India lacks a specific law criminalizing match-fixing, relying on the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections for cheating and criminal conspiracy.
• The Law Commission of India in 2018 recommended that match-fixing and sports fraud should be specifically made criminal offenses.
• The BCCI's intervention supports the Karnataka government's appeal to overturn the High Court order, potentially enabling prosecution under existing cheating laws.
• Other cricketing nations like the UK, Australia, and South Africa have specific laws to tackle match-fixing and corruption in sports.
• The UK's Gambling Act 2005 covers deception related to betting outcomes, while Australia has state-level offenses and a federal agency for sports integrity.
• South Africa's Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 criminalizes corrupt activities related to sporting events.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Match-fixing: Illegally predetermining the outcome of a sporting event.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: The new criminal code of India, set to replace the Indian Penal Code.
• Criminal Conspiracy: An agreement between two or more people to commit an illegal act.