The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, September 8, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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CBI questions Kapil
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 7 — India’s cricket coach Kapil Dev, who was today questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with match-fixing allegations, said he would be the “happiest man” if the report relating to the scandal was submitted at the earliest.

“I will be the happiest man if the report is submitted at the earliest,” Kapil told waiting newspersons after nearly two hours of questioning by top CBI investigators here.

Kapil, who was summoned to the CBI headquarters to question him on the raging match-fixing and betting scandal in general and the allegations of his involvement in the controversy in particular, said “whatever I had to say, I have told the CBI. I am very happy and probably I will be able to sleep properly tonight.”

According to CBI sources, Kapil was quizzed generally on the match-fixing scandal and in particular about his former team-mate Manoj Prabhakar’s charge of having been offered bribe by the former India captain to under-perform in a 1994 Singer Cup match against Pakistan in Sri Lanka.

Kapil, who was all smiles when he emerged from the bureau headquarters, however, refused to comment on whether he would continue as coach of the national team.

According to reports, board president A C Muthiah is expected to decide Kapil’s fate next week.

It is the first time the CBI has questioned the cricket legend in connection with the scandal and Kapil is among the last of cricketers to depose before the premier investigating agency which will submit its interim report to Union Sports Minister S S Dhindsa.

Kapil arrived at the CBI headquarters around 11.30 a.m. and was questioned till around 1.30 p.m. and his submission was “oral” and he did not submit any statement in writing, sources said.

With the questioning of Kapil, the CBI is in the last phase of investigations and the interim report is likely to be submitted by the end of this month, CBI spokesman S M Khan told reporters.

Mr Khan said the future course of action on whether the agency would go further and file a chargesheet in the case could be decided only after submission of the report to the Centre.

The CBI spokesman answered in the negative when asked whether any income tax official was present during his questioning.

Asked why Kapil was not questioned earlier, Mr Khan said since there was a specific allegation against him the witnesses were to be questioned before he could be quizzed.

So far the CBI has questioned nearly 100 persons, who are directly or indirectly connected with cricket and the questioning of former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin was the longest. Indian team physio Ali Irani’s questioning was the shortest, he said.

Kapil’s statement is considered to be vital before the submission of the preliminary investigation report by the CBI as the entire controversy over the past four-and-a-half months has been revolving around eminent cricketers, including him.

Kapil was dragged into the controversy on May 24 when Manoj Prabhakar named him as the player who offered him Rs 25 lakh to under-perform in a match against Pakistan in the Singer Cup tournament in Sri Lanka in 1994.

Kapil Dev’s premises were also raided by the income tax authorities on July 20 during a nationwide swoop on cricketers, administrators and bookies.

Besides Kapil Dev, the CBI has so far recorded statements of 15 cricket-related persons, including BCCI president A C Muthiah, Secretary Jaywant Lele, treasurer Kishore Rungta, Delhi Cricket Association sports secretary Sunil Dev, former BCCI president I S Bindra, Ajit Wadekar, cricketers Manoj Prabhakar, Mohammed Azharuddin, Navjot Sidhu, Nayan Mongia, Ajay Jadeja, Prashan Vaidya and Nikhil Chopra besides some bookies.