M A I N   N E W S

Gulshan’s brother grilled
Tribune News Service and agencies

NEW DELHI, April 8 — Kishan Kumar, brother of slain music magnate Gulshan Kumar, was being questioned here by Delhi Police in connection with the match-fixing and betting case in which five South African cricketers, including skipper Hansie Cronje, have been named, police said.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) K.K. Paul told PTI that crime branch officials have been sent to question Kumar, who is admitted in a city hospital.

‘‘We will be questioning him in connection with the case,’’ Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pradeep Shrivastava said.

Kumar’s questioning follows some disclosures made by south Delhi businessman Rajesh Kalra, arrested in connection with the case, during his interrogation since yesterday, police sources said.

They indicated that some more arrests were likely soon.

Kalra, charged with providing a cellular phone to Cronje, has been quoted by a weekly as saying the one-day series between India and South Africa was ‘‘fixed’’ at about $ 40,000 to $ 50,000.

The cell phone remains to be traced.

Police is also in the process of seeking Interpol’s help in the case, including tracing the whereabouts of London-based NRI Sanjay, alias Sanjeev Chawla, who is alleged to have struck the deal with Cronje at a city hotel, the sources said.

Particulars of Sanjiv Chawla have been flashed to all international airports in the country with a request that they maintain a tight vigil if he attempts to sneak into India, they added. There were two persons inside Rajesh Kalra’s residence, when he was arrested. While not disclosing the identity of the second person, police sources said “his involvement in the match-fixing cannot be ruled out.”

Kalra, a South Delhi businessman, is the only person arrested in the case so far.

KHADOOR SAHIB (FOC): The Union Sports Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, has said that the Central Government would not interfere immediately in the investigations being carried out by the Delhi Police in the match-fixing charges against South Africa cricket captain Hansie Cronje and three other players during the last months Pepsi one-day series. Mr Dhindsa who attended a “bhog” ceremony here was speaking to a group of newsmen.

Mr Dhindsa, however, hinted that he would consult the officials of the BCCI and the ICC President, Mr Jagmohan Dalima, on the matter and if need be he would ask them to convene a joint meeting to go into the matter for action which has attained a serious nature as certain Indian bookies were involved.