Manjot Kalra denies LPL 2026 fixing allegations after arrest

Former India Under-19 player Manjot Kalra has denied allegations of corruption in the 2026 Lanka Premier League after being remanded in custody until July 31 by the Magistrate's Court in Colombo. The Jaffna Kings co-owner was arrested on July 16 following an investigation by Sri Lanka's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports.

Sri Lanka Police confirmed that Kalra was produced before court on July 17, where investigators alleged that he had approached players connected to the Jaffna Kings franchise in an attempt to influence match outcomes during LPL 2026. The allegations relate to approaches made to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dunith Wellalage and Avishka Fernando.

According to local media reports cited during court proceedings, investigators alleged that Kalra offered the players more than USD 30,000 to influence games. Authorities also told the court they possessed recorded phone conversations and video evidence as part of their case.

The investigation reportedly escalated after the players contacted the SIU. Acting on instructions from investigators, the players allegedly negotiated a payment of LKR 11.5 million, with LKR 9.5 million to be paid in advance.

Police alleged that Kalra and another individual were arrested when the second person arrived at a pre-arranged location carrying a bag containing the advance payment.

Kalra's legal team rejected the allegations in court and sought bail. The request was denied, with the Chief Magistrate stating that granting bail could prejudice the ongoing investigation.

In a statement released on his behalf, Kalra said he had represented India with honour and understood "the responsibility and integrity expected of those associated with Indian sport." The statement added that he had entered the Lanka Premier League as a minority shareholder in good faith and that all background and due-diligence checks conducted before his involvement had confirmed a clean reputation.

The statement further said that Kalra would continue cooperating with authorities and would refrain from making additional public comments while the investigation remains active.

The timing of the arrest added to the disruption surrounding the opening day of the 2026 Lanka Premier League. News of Kalra's arrest emerged just hours before the tournament opener between Jaffna Kings and Galle Gallants.

Jaffna Kings lost that match by 36 runs, with Wellalage featuring for the franchise despite being one of the players named in the court proceedings.

The SIU's investigation is continuing, and Kalra will remain in custody until his next scheduled court appearance on July 31 unless a higher court intervenes.

The case has become one of the most significant corruption investigations involving the Lanka Premier League since the tournament's inception and is likely to place additional scrutiny on franchise ownership, player approaches and anti-corruption protocols across the competition.

For now, the key question is whether investigators can substantiate the alleged payment arrangement and recorded conversations when the case returns to court later this month.