M A I N   N E W S

CBI to re-examine bookies

NEW DELHI, June 18 (PTI) — The CBI will re-examine bookies questioned here and in Mumbai to establish the role of Mukesh Gupta suspected to be the same person named by disgraced former South African Captain Hansie Cronje before a commission.

Former Indian cricket team manager Ajit Wadekar, examined by the agency last month, is likely to be questioned again in Mumbai, the CBI sources said.

They said some bookies questioned in Mumbai and Delhi would be re-examined soon to establish the role of Gupta who is on the “run”.

Raids were carried out in parts of the capital to trace Gupta, the sources said, adding a team of CBI’s Special Crime Branch visited Gupta’s shop and residence but could not find him there. Mukesh Gupta’s father K.L.Gupta has, however, alleged that his son has been picked up by the investigating agency.

Mukesh Gupta is alleged to be a key player in the match-fixing scandal in which Cronje had admitted having received $ 80,000 in two instalments.

Cronje had alleged that Mukesh Gupta, also known as “MK”, was introduced to him by cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin. He told the King Commission on Friday that Gupta gave him a bribe during 1996 Kanpur cricket Test against India.

Wadekar’s examination was needed after the submission of video tapes, filmed by former all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar and submitted to the agency on May 27.

Wadekar, in his earlier deposition, had denied that Prabhakar had approached him after Kapil Dev had allegedly offered Prabhakar a bribe of Rs 25 lakh to underplay against Pakistan in 1994, a charge denied by Kapil. The agency would also question Prashant Vadiya in the match-fixing scandal.

Vadiya is the other player besides wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia, who Prabhakar claims rushed to his hotel room and witnessed the commotion when he shouted at Kapil Dev, spurning his offer.

Meanwhile, the Income Tax (IT) authorities have begun investigations into records and returns of leading cricketers and officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) whose names surfaced during the on-going match-fixing controversy, the IT sources said.

The sources said returns and records of three players hailing from northern region, two from Mumbai and one from Hyderabad and a BCCI official from Calcutta were being scrutinised by the IT officials.

The sources said the list of players and officials was prepared mostly on the basis of media reports containing allegations against them for either being involved in match-fixing or doing favours in award of telecast rights.

However, the sources said the IT would not be sharing the information about the returns with the CBI till approached formally.