Former India Under-19 cricketer and Jaffna Kings co-owner Manjot Kalra will remain in custody after a Colombo court rejected his request for early bail in connection with the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 match-fixing investigation. The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court ordered Kalra to remain in judicial custody until July 31, extending his detention while the Sri Lanka Police continue their probe into alleged corruption during the ongoing tournament.
Kalra is among the primary accused in the case and is alleged to have approached players with offers to manipulate LPL matches. Following the court’s decision, Kalra and fellow Indian national Yuvraj Pushpa, who is also under investigation, sought anticipatory bail before Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama. According to reports, their legal counsel, K.W.S. Fernando, argued that both men were facing health issues while in custody and requested their release on medical grounds.
However, the magistrate rejected the plea, observing that the investigation is still at a crucial stage. As a result, both Kalra and Pushpa will remain in custody while the Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports continues gathering evidence.
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The allegations against Kalra surfaced shortly before the start of the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League. Investigators claim the former India Under-19 World Cup-winning batter attempted to influence multiple cricketers by allegedly offering financial incentives to manipulate matches during the tournament.
Several Sri Lankan international cricketers, including Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, and Dunith Wellalage, reportedly alerted authorities after receiving suspicious approaches. Their complaints were later followed by reports from a few domestic players, strengthening the scope of the investigation.
Manjot Kalra remains in custody in Lanka Premier League match-fixing investigation.
A Colombo court rejected Manjot Kalra’s bail plea, with remand continuing until 31 July 2026.updates at https://t.co/poAYjl0c0J 🌐
Manjot Kalra bail denied · Yuvraj Pushpa match-fixing case · pic.twitter.com/NbzC4ObxqT
— Kartik Sharma (@Livescoredesk) July 28, 2026
According to investigators, they have collected preliminary evidence that includes phone recordings, video footage, and other material allegedly linking the accused to attempts at corrupting matches. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations have yet to be proven in court. No findings of guilt have been established against either Kalra or Pushpa at this stage.
Officials have also informed the court that several players cooperated with the Sports Corruption Investigation Unit after being contacted, allowing investigators to monitor the alleged approaches and gather further evidence.
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The LPL 2026 season began on July 17 and is scheduled to conclude on August 8. Following Kalra’s arrest, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stepped in to oversee the administration of the Jaffna Kings franchise to ensure the smooth conduct of the tournament.
Although the franchise has undergone significant administrative and sponsorship changes during the investigation, the team continues to participate in the competition under the Jaffna Kings name. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket and league officials have assumed responsibility for the franchise’s day-to-day operations until the legal proceedings are concluded.
