Indian cricket star defrauded of $16,000

One arrested after cricketing legend V V S Laxman had money withdrawn from his account.

Laxman, who retired in 2012, was known for his poise and style [EPA]

A 28-year-old man in eastern India suspected of siphoning off a million rupees ($16,000) from the bank account of retired cricketing star V V S Laxman has been arrested by local police.

Laxman, who retired from international cricket in 2012, lodged a police complaint at the weekend over unauthorised activity after receiving a message that the money had been transferred.

The deputy commissioner of police in Salt Lake, adjacent to West Bengal state’s provincial capital Kolkata, said the money was deposited in an account opened by the suspect in the name of a fictitious company.

“Police are yet to know how he gained access to Laxman’s account,” Arnab Ghosh told AFP news agency by phone.

The suspect has since been transferred by police to the southern city of Hyderabad, Laxman’s home town, where the stylish middle-order batsman lodged a police case.

Laxman is best known for his majestic 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in March 2001, when India turned the tables on the world champions after being made to follow on 274 runs behind.

Known by his initials VVS, the cricketer played 134 Tests for India after his debut in 1996, scoring 8,781 runs at an average of 45.97 with 17 centuries and 56 fifties.

Source: News Agencies