Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has been in the news for the wrong reasons. A few days ago, he was accused of corruption by the ICC and now, he has been blamed of smuggling rotten betel nuts to India as per reports by Dainik Bhaskar. A couple of other cricketers have also been accused of a tax-evasion fraudulent deal. However, their names are yet to be revealed. The directorate of revenue intelligence seized betel nuts of rupees millions were seized in Nagpur. According to the report, Jayasuriya was even called to Mumbai for questioning. A letter was even sent to the Sri Lankan government for a further query. Sanath Jayasuriya Charged for Breaching ICC Anti-corruption Code. 

A couple of other cricketers will also be called to Mumbai for further questioning. According to the report, the betel nuts were bought from Indonesia. Dilip Sivare, the deputy director of revenue intelligence further said that dummy companies are said to have been formed in Sri Lanka for the same purpose to draw an illegal advantage out of the (South Asian Free Trade Area) Act that gives a tax holiday on certain consignments between neighbours Sri Lanka and India for goods produced indigenously by either and sold to the other.

The report further stated that the cricketers have used their stardom to get export licenses from Sri Lankan authorities. This has helped the cricketers form the dummy company. There were fake documents certifying that the betel nuts were produced in Sri Lanka. The businessmen in Sri Lanka sell the rotten betel nuts to their Indian counterparts in Nagpur at just 25% of its original price.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2018 07:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).