New Delhi: Former India Under-19 World Cup winning star Manjot Kala He will remain jailed in Sri Lanka after a Colombo court rejected his request for anticipatory bail in connection with an alleged match-fixing case related to the ongoing 2026 Sri Lanka Premier League (LPL).Kalra, who rose to fame after winning the 2018 Under-19 World Cup final, and fellow Indian Yuvraj Pushpa have been remanded in custody until July 31 and sought relief from the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court after their arrest earlier this month. However, Chief Judge Asanga S. Bodaragama dismissed the application, allowing the existing remand order to continue while investigators conduct a high-profile corruption probe.
Court rejects bail on medical grounds
Defense lawyer KWS Fernando sought the release of the two accused on health grounds and told the court that Kalra and Pushpa were unwell, PTI reported.Prosecutors opposed the plea, saying an ongoing investigation by the Sri Lanka Police’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to prevent sports-related crime was ongoing. The magistrate accepted the prosecutor’s opinion and refused to grant bail, ensuring that the two defendants were detained until at least July 31.The latest ruling marks another setback for Kara, who has been at the center of the biggest controversy of the sixth edition of the Sri Lanka Premier League.
Match-fixing accusations widen as more players join complaints
The case stems from accusations of match-fixing in an attempt to influence players participating in LPL 2026.Sri Lanka internationals Banuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando and Dunis Velalaki initially lodged complaints with investigators. During Monday’s hearing, the court heard that two more Sri Lankan cricketers have since joined the complaint, taking the total number of players involved to five.Investigators earlier told the court that a number of players were allegedly given advice about match-fixing. Based on material submitted during the initial remand proceedings, the players alerted the Sports Corruption Investigation Unit and continued to communicate with the suspects at the direction of investigators.Authorities also claim to have recorded phone calls and video evidence related to the alleged methods. However, Kalra’s defense has denied all allegations, insisting there is no evidence he gave or paid any money.Kalra issued a statement after his arrest, claiming he was cooperating fully with investigators and was confident the facts would prove his innocence.
jaffna kings Title terminated amid ongoing investigation
The controversy also sparked major developments off the field.Last week, Lanka Premier League commercial rights holder Innovative Production Group (IPG), in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), terminated its franchise agreement with Sports Commune, the ownership group behind Jaffna Kings, citing failure to meet financial obligations.Kalra is a co-owner of the franchise along with entrepreneur Mayank Goel. Following the termination, IPG and Sri Lanka Cricket took over full financial and operational control of the team to ensure the tournament continues without disruption.Tournament organizers confirmed that Jaffna Kings will continue to compete under the same name and there will be no changes to the lineup, schedule or coaching staff. They also reiterated that the ongoing investigation involving Cara would not affect the conduct of the game.A total of five teams will participate in 24 matches in the 2026 Lanka Premier League, which started on July 17 and is expected to end on August 8. While the game continues, Kara’s immediate future depends on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and his remand will last until July 31.
