spot-fixing

This week, a Karachi (Pakistan) bureau report from a reputed Indian news agency, claimed that Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra was interrogated by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for having links with Pakistani bowler Mohammad Asif, who is at the centre of a ‘spot-fixing’ scandal that has rocked world cricket.

At a Press Conference held in Mumbai today, Neetu Chandra’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar has denied she was interrogated and reiterated that the actress has nothing to do with either Mohammad Asif or match fixing. “The reports about Neetu being interrogated by Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of ICC are incorrect and baseless,” said Bhagwagar.

“Neither does Neetu know Mohammad Asif, nor has she been to Indian Premier League (IPL) parties or events, as reported. Her name is unnecessarily being dragged in the match-fixing debate with unfounded allegations,” said the celebrity publicist.

The controversy began with a section of the media discussing a “leaked” document, which it claimed, was prepared by the Interpol and Scotland Yard for the Pakistan Cricket Board. Apparently, this document contains various phone numbers of people who interacted with Mohammad Asif in 2009.

The media reports stated that in this document, the only mobile number from Mumbai, belonged to actress Neetu Chandra, and insinuated that she could be involved in the infamous match-fixing scandal. It further claimed that according to the document, the actress had made two phone calls and exchanged SMS’s with the controversial cricketer, discussing sensitive cricket issues and deals.

“Neetu is flummoxed about how her cell number has featured on such a scandalous list. She believes, this could be a conspiracy,” added the PR specialist.

When asked about the cricketer’s ex-girlfriend Veena Malik dragging Neetu’s name in the match-fixing controversy through her interviews, claiming that “a Bollywood actress used to call Asif,” Bhagwagar said, “Without any concrete evidence, Ms Malik is going on and on, talking about how she thinks Neetu Chandra is involved with Mohammad Asif. She is probably doing this for publicity, as we’ve heard that she herself has Bollywood dreams. If that is the case, then this is a cheap way to bag mileage, as in the process, Ms Malik is maligning the name and reputation of an established and critically acclaimed actress.”

Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra today denied having any links with Pakistani bowler Mohammad Asif, who is at the centre of a ‘spot-fixing’ scandal that has rocked world cricket.

The controversy began with most Indian television channels discussing a “leaked” document, which they claimed, was prepared by the Interpol and Scotland Yard for the Pakistan Cricket Board. Apparently, this document contains various phone numbers of people who interacted with Mohammad Asif in 2009.

The TV reports stated that in this document, the only mobile number from Mumbai, belonged of actress Neetu Chandra, and insinuated that she could be involved in the infamous match-fixing scandal. They further claimed that according to the document, the actress had made two phone calls and exchanged SMS’s with the controversial cricketer, discussing sensitive cricket issues and deals.

But Neetu Chandra’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar vehemently denied all the allegations. “Personally, Neetu does not know Mohammad Asif or any Pakistani cricketer for that matter. Her name is being unceremoniously dragged in the match-fixing debate with baseless allegations,” said the celebrity publicist.

“Neetu didn’t even know how Asif looked like. Within minutes of this controversy breaking out, I met her and showed her his picture from the internet on my BlackBerry. Neetu glanced at it and almost jumped from her chair, joking, ‘Oh, he’s too dark’. She also doesn’t know or understand how her cell number has featured on such a scandalous list. If it indeed has, it could well be a conspiracy,” added the PR specialist.

Owing to her active association with sports, recently, Neetu also became one of the few privileged Bollywood celebrities to have the honour of running with the Commonwealth Games torch (popularly known as the Queen’s Baton) in her hometown Patna. Apart from being a regular basketball player, the actress is a Black Belt 2nd Dan in Taekwondo, having participated in various martial arts tournaments at a district, national, as well as international level. Though Bhagwagar revealed, she is not a cricket fan.

This year, Neetu has an impressive line-up of films like Anees Bazmee’s ‘No Problem’ (with Sunil Shetty, Akshaye Khanna and Sushmita Sen), Gary Grewal’s ‘Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot’ (with Paresh Rawal and Randeep Hooda), Barnali Shukla’s ‘Kuch Love Jaisa’ (with Rahul Bose) amongst two other mega-budget ventures opposite superstars of the South.