The net is spreading in the ongoing Karnataka Premier League (KPL) match-fixing investigations with few Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketers are alleged to have set honeytraps for KPL players.

“I cannot reveal everything at this stage since investigation is in progress,” Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao shared. “But I can confirm that some KPL players were taken to places like Dubai and Mauritius. They were given expensive gifts. Then they were honeytrapped. Among the KPL players who were honeytrapped and blackmailed, some refused to budge to the bookies’ demands.”

“BCCI has a vigilance team of its own and we want to know whether the team was aware of few unnatural developments during important matches in the past two KPL seasons,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying by TOI . “We use the word unnatural because some players suddenly performed way below expectations. The players have to provide explanations for their actions. We have arrested players and a team owner for their role in match fixing and betting.”

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While speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Bhaskar Rao said innocent people go to watch matches, but the matches would have been already decided – who will win or lose.

“Today there are many non-playing cricketers involved than those playing on the field, and it has become a business for them as they travel to Dubai, West Indies and other foreign countries and stay at five-star hotels. They have also indulged in blackmailing of players through honey trap. The game has become insignificant and the activities of these betters have only increased,” he added.

“We have issued notices to all teams asking for videos, scoresheet, details of the managers and others. I have formed a small SIT (Special Investigation Team) within the CCB to go deep into this. Let’s see where it goes,” he concluded.

Two cricket players CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi were recently arrested in their connection with the match-fixing scandal in KPL.