The long-standing controversy surrounding the 2008 Indian Premier League “slapgate” incident has resurfaced after former India fast bowler S. Sreesanth made fresh allegations against former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, claiming that the latter profited financially from the controversy and confirming that he has now ended all personal ties with him.
The incident dates back to April 2008 during the inaugural season of the IPL, when Harbhajan Singh slapped Sreesanth after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. The episode led to Harbhajan being banned for the remainder of the tournament and remains one of the most controversial moments in IPL history.
In the latest development, Sreesanth has alleged that Harbhajan Singh later monetised the incident through a commercial advertisement. He claimed that Harbhajan earned between ₹80 lakh and ₹1 crore from a campaign linked to the “slapgate” episode.
Sreesanth also stated that he was approached to promote the advertisement on social media. He said, “He (Harbhajan Singh) called me and asked me to post a story about it. I told him, ‘I’ll forgive but I’ll never forget.’ If someone wrongs you, you should forgive them but never forget. If you forget, they will do the same thing again. He is the biggest example of that. There is no doubt about it.”
Speaking further on the issue, Sreesanth said, “I have never spoken about Bhajji in any interview. This is going to be the first time.” He alleged that the act of commercialising the incident did not sit well with him, despite having forgiven Harbhajan for the original altercation.
Sreesanth also confirmed that the relationship between the two has completely broken down, stating that he has blocked Harbhajan Singh on Instagram, signalling a definitive end to their association.
