CBI director satisfied with progress
The joint director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) RN Sawani said he was `satisfied' with his team's progress in the matchfixing case
AC Ganesh
24-Aug-2000
The joint director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) RN
Sawani said he was `satisfied' with his team's progress in the matchfixing case. Talking to a news agency in New Delhi on Wednesday,
Sawani said ``we are satisfied with the progress of the probe so far."
Asked if the agency had found any evidence in the case, Sawani said
nothing could be revealed at this stage as ``it was an important
ingredient of the preliminary report.''
Sawani said that the CBI was in the process of finalising its
preliminary report and will submit a copy to the Sports Ministry in
September. To another question on whether the report would include the
names of those involved in the scandal, Sawani said "we will be
replying to the queries raised by the ministry when the case was first
handed over to the agency in May." He added at the end of the case "we
will send them a comprehensive report covering various aspects of the
controversy."
On summoning Kapil Dev, the joint director felt the need did not arise
though there have been allegations against the Indian coach. Sawani
said "We have not issued him (Kapil) any summons as we do not feel the
need of questioning him at this stage. We may question a few others to
corroborate the allegations against him. But if it is still felt
necessary, we can consider questioning him." Once the report is handed
over, a decision on it to be made public or not will be left to the
Sports Ministry.
Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, a spokesman of the Sports Ministry said
the interim report of the King Commission will be made public on
Friday. The spokesman for the Sport and Recreation Ministry Gregory
Abrahams said the report will be posted on the government's website."
The interim report was submitted to the South African Sports Minister
Ngconde Balfour on August 11 who in turn handed over the copy to the
South African President Thabo Mbeki to study them. The report has the
confessions that Hansie Cronje and others made before the Commission
on the match-fixing and betting scandal.
The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) meanwhile said it was
expecting a copy of the report today. Talking to a news agency, the
UCBSA spokesman Bronwyn Wilkinson said "We won't comment on it until
Monday when we make public the findings of the disciplinary hearings."
He added that a copy will be given to ICC president Dave Richards, who
is currently in South Africa.
Earlier at the submission of the report, Judge King who heads the
Commission, said that more evidences will follow during the second
sitting of the commission from October 2 which is expected to last for
about two weeks.