Aditya Rao, accused of planting explosives at M'luru airport damages TV screens in Shivamogga jail
Shivamogga: Aditya Rao, the convict who was found guilty of planting explosives at Mangaluru Airport, is now facing another case for damaging public property. The case was filed based on a recent complaint by officials from Shivamogga Central Prison.
Rao, who is currently serving his sentence in Shivamogga Central Jail, raised a question during a video conference on Wednesday, inquiring if he would be subjected to further interrogation. Prison staff checked the records and informed him that no further questioning was scheduled. However, after leaving the conference room, Rao allegedly returned with a stone in hand and vandalized the television screen in the room.
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Prison staff immediately apprehended him, but Rao managed to free himself and proceeded to destroy the screen of a second television set. However, he was quickly captured again and brought before the jailer. A complaint has been filed by the Chief Superintendent against Rao for damaging the screens of two television sets within the prison premises.
The matter has been registered as a case at Tunga Town Police Station, and further investigation will be carried out accordingly.
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Former South African cricketers arrested on match-fixing charges
Cape Town: Three former South African cricketers, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thami Tsolekile, and Ethy Mbhalati, have been arrested and charged with multiple counts of corruption in connection to the 2015-16 Ram Slam T20 Challenge match-fixing scandal.
The trio faces five charges under s. 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004, a South African law aimed at tackling corruption. Investigations by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, revealed their alleged involvement in attempting to manipulate matches in collaboration with Indian bookmakers.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has clarified that no matches were ultimately affected, as the conspirators’ plans were thwarted. However, the scandal has cast a shadow on the integrity of South African cricket.
These arrests follow the 2016-2017 bans imposed on the three cricketers, alongside four others, for their roles in the same scandal. Among them, Gulam Bodi served time in prison, while Jean Symes and Pumi Matshikwe received suspended sentences after pleading guilty in 2021 and 2022. There has been no update on possible charges against Alviro Petersen, another player implicated in the controversy.
The legal proceedings, which mark the first application of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act in sports-related corruption, have been postponed until February 2025 to allow further investigation.
Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the Hawks, stressed the importance of safeguarding the integrity of sport, stating, “Corruption undermines the integrity of sport, and the Hawks are determined to safeguard the values of fairness and professionalism in all areas of society.”
