I'm a cricketer, not a terrorist: Chandila

Tainted Rajasthan Royals spinner Ajit Chandila claims innocence in the IPL spot-fixing episode and says the Delhi Police's decision 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) to attend the last rites of his elder brother, was optimistic of coming out clean.

"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 Zee News after being granted interim bail.

- IPL spot-fixing saga

He said he and his family are in a state of shock after learning that the MCOCA could 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.

"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.

The lanky off-spinner from Haryana defended his lavish lifestyle, saying IPL offers a cricketer enough money to live like that.

"IPL offers so much money that there is no need to do any wrong thing to earn money. As far as my lifestyle is concerned, everybody wants to wear good clothes, shades, etc. There is nothing wrong in wearing expensive things. So, if I had been spending on myself, it is my personal choice and nobody should be concerned about that," Chandila said.

Besides Chandila, two other Rajasthan Royals cricketers -- S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan -- were arrested by the Delhi police during this year's IPL for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing.

While Sreesanth and Chavan are out on bail, Chandila is still in jail.

Image: Ajit Chandila