05 August,2013 07:56 PM IST | | PTI
Claiming innocence, tainted Rajasthan Royals spinner Ajit Chandila has said that the Delhi Police's proposed move to slap the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) charges against him is completely unfair as he is a "cricketer and not a terrorist".
Chandila, who was granted an interim bail for two days (from August 3 to 5) for the last rites of his elder brother, was optimistic that he will come out clean of the spot-fixing charges levelled against him.
"I dreamt of becoming a good cricketer, and to an extent I achieved that. But a tragedy struck and my dreams were shattered. People have seen my performance in last two seasons of the IPL. I am clean and I trust the judiciary," Chandila told a news channel after being released on interim bail.
Ajit Chandila says he's clean. File Pic
Chandila said his family and he were in a state of shock after learning that the MCOCA might be levelled against him. "My family and I are in a state of shock that such charges are being levelled against me. I am a cricketer not a terrorist," he said.u00a0
"My family has suffered a lot, and my brother was hospitalised the day I was arrested. But I have the support of my family. And soon, people will know the truth. I am innocent. I will make a comeback soon. "I have no clue about the spot-fixing controversy. I have never been approached by anybody. I am absolutely unaware of this," Chandila added.
Chandila said he has never been approached by any bookie.
"I have no clue about the spot fixing controversy. I have never been approached by anybody. I am absolutely unaware of this," he said.
When asked if he was being framed, Chandila refused to comment and said: "I don't want to say anything. I am shocked. It is a tragedy for me and my family. I don't even know what will happen to me. I also don't know what is MCOCA. When my lawyer told me the details of the law, I was shocked and devastated."
Asked about his penchant for luxury jeans and watches, Chandila said every sportsperson has a penchant for designer clothes.
"Each cricketer participating in Ranji or IPL gets paid handsomely. Everyone likes wearing good clothes and watches. It is not that this is possible with wrong means. In fact, we're paid enough that we don't have to resort to any wrong means. As far as my lifestyle is concerned, everybody wants to wear good clothes, shades, etc. So, if I had been spending on myself, it is my personal choice and nobody should be concerned about that."
Chandila said nobody should interfere in his personal life.
"My dream was to become a cricketer and I've worked very hard to achieve that. My performances in the past two seasons of IPL are a testament to that. God willing, I'll soon make a comeback," he said.
Chandila, along with his Rajasthan Royals team mates S. Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan, was arrested by Delhi Police May 16 after a midnight raid in Mumbai. Sreesanth and Chavan have secured bail in June but Chandila hasn't been as lucky.
