Actor introduced cricketer to bar dancer

The Mumbai crime branch is likely to summon actor Aditya Pancholi for questioning in the cricket betting controversy involving 'crorepati' bar dancer Tarannum.

Police suspect that Pancholi had introduced a top Sri Lankan spinner to the bar dancer 16 months ago.

The spinner had come to Mumbai on a "personal trip."

Police said he was staying at a five star hotel and was taken to Deepa bar in Vile Parle by Pancholi, a regular there, the Times of India reported.

"We also have information about the cricketer showering lakhs of rupees on the girl and visiting the dance bar on a number of occasions," a crime branch officer said. TOI reported the news on September about a Sri Lankan cricketer visiting Deepa bar and showering money on Tarannum.

Senior officers are tight lipped about the role of the cricketer in the case.

Tarannum was questioned by the crime branch on Saturday and is likely to be booked under the Gambling Act.

Deputy Police Commissioner (crime) Dhananjay Kamlakar said on Tuesday: "We are still to register a case. We have questioned three bookies and are going through a long list of mobile phone records."

Police suspect that she had placed bets in the Australia-England Ashes series. "We have also interrogated certain bookies close to Shobhan Mehta alias Kalachowkie. We are trying to check if there is any link between Shobhan and Tarannum," a crime branch inspector said.

Shobhan was recently arrested and remanded to police custody for 10 days in a cricket betting case. Police are investigating Tarannum's alleged links with the underworld. She had visited Dubai for stage shows in 1997.