The Supreme Court of India will soon decide whether match-fixing amounts to a criminal offence, in State of Karnataka & Anr v. Abrar Kazi & Ors case arising out of alleged corruption in the 2018 Karnataka Premier League (KPL).
- A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh appointed Advocate Shivam Singh as amicus curiae to assist the Court.
- The case is listed for hearing on July 22, 2025.
The appeal, filed by the State of Karnataka, challenges a High Court ruling that had quashed criminal conspiracy and cheating charges against players accused of fixing KPL matches, including:
- CM Gautam – former Ranji Trophy captain and ex-IPL player
- Abrar Kazi – former RCB player and Ranji cricketer
What the Karnataka High Court Had Said
The High Court had held that:
“Match-fixing may be dishonest, but it doesn’t amount to a criminal offence. It violates the BCCI’s code of conduct, and it’s for the BCCI to take action.”
Supreme Court’s Intervention
The top court will now examine whether cheating fans and compromising the integrity of a sport through match-fixing can qualify as a criminal act under Indian Penal Code provisions.
The case has important implications for sports regulation in India, especially with growing concerns about corruption in domestic leagues.
Attention all law students!
Are you tired of missing out on internship, job opportunities and law notes?
Well, fear no more! With 1+ lakhs students already on board, you don’t want to be left behind. Be a part of the biggest legal community around!
Join our WhatsApp Groups (Click Here) and Telegram Channel (Click Here) and get instant notifications.