Could the Prabhakar tapes mark a turning point in the case?

The latest episode in the match fixing drama has been one of high voltage. Manoj Prabhakar, who has been gathering evidence to support his allegation against Indian coach Kapil Dev, has managed to drag in many more names, basically a who's who of Indian cricket. Former Punjab Police chief and IHF president KPS Gill, Congress (I) leader Ajit Jogi and model turned socialite Ms. Nafisa Ali were some of the invitees to the press conference at New Delhi on Saturday.

At the end of the conference, Gill said "It is shameful." When asked whether the tape proved anything, Gill said, "it is not a question of proving. It is a case of trust being betrayed. A system has been shattered, otherwise gambling is a very minor offence." Gill recalled a BCCI official telling him nine years ago in Bangalore that "cricket has become WWF."

The recordings of the video tapes titled ``Fallen heroes -- the inside story of a nation betrayed'', carries `interviews' of eminent personalities like ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya, BCCI president AC Muthiah, BCCI secretary JY Lele, former BCCI president IS Bindra, former Indian team physio Ali Irani, Mumbai Commissioner of Police (Railways) Rakesh Maria, Income Tax Commissioner Vishwa Bandhu Gupta, Sports Authority of India secretary Amrit Mathur, former Test stars Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Kirti Azad, Nayan Mongia, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Prashant Vaidya, Ajit Wadekar, Bishen Singh Bedi, Kiran More, Sandeep Patil, Mohinder Amarnath and Sanjay Manjrekar. Besides, the recorded versions of Congress leader and former Union Minister Kamal Nath and film actress Anju Mahendru also figured. All this apart, some cricketers' wives have also echoed their views.

Rakesh Maria: "Things started when Gavaskar was the captain. The system was well-developed when Kapil Dev became the captain and peaked when Azhar became captain." Maria alleged that the investigation brought out the involvement of Prabhakar, Kapil, Jadeja and Azhar. He also alleged that Azhar had contacts with Dawood Ibrahim gang members like Chhota Shakeel, Sharad Shakeel and Anees. ``He (Azhar) has a criminal bent of mind,'' he alleged adding that the former captain was ``very smart'' and changed his mobile numbers quite frequently. He put the total worth of Azhar at Rs 150-160 crore with four-five flats in Juhu alone.

SS Dhindsa: The Union Sports Minister says in the tape that "there was immense pressure not to hand over the case to the CBI. Even Home Minister LK Advani was not in favour of handing over the case to the agency."

Sunil Gavaskar: The former Indian captain tells Prabhakar that Azharuddin knows Sanjeev Chawla. "His (Azhar's) money was there... he also had some problems. In Zimbabwe, Azhar bought a watch or gold or something, and he didn't have the money! Who's the guy in London? The guy whose name has come, Sanjay Kalra or some Sanjeev Kalra.. he was hiding and could not be traced ... he transferred the money for him (Azhar). He bought the watch, in Zimbabwe or England, and he (Chawla) transferred the money for him... Whatever, some connection is established, right?"

Ajit Wadekar: While recalling the Kapil Dev incident where he allegedly offered a bribe to Prabhakar, Wadekar said "Whatever you told me, I have given that in writing to the board. Even the part that Kapil approached you. What more can I do. How do you expect me to say all this in public?".

Kiran More: The former Indian wicketkeeper says that former Indian manager Ajit Wadekar is aware of match fixing. He says "He (Wadekar) has made a lot of money and screwed the team also. He should have been kicked out at the right moment, even now he's hanging around... Nayan Mongia is roaming freely."

Navjot Sidhu: When Prabhakar, after revealing Kapil Dev's name, approaches Sidhu for support, the former Indian opening batsman says "I'm indebted to Kapil paaji. He gave me an opportunity to play, no matter what kind of person he is, I owe him a debt. I don't want to be dragged into this."

Ali Irani: In the tape, Irani alleges that Azhar shared a close rapport with a Chief Minister and any involvement of his would mean the fall of the Vajpayee Government. The tape shows Irani as saying."If pulled into the controversy, he could act like Jayalalitha." Irani described Jadeja as ``a mischievous thug'' alleging that he worked in tandem with Azhar in first fixing the match and then selling the information outside. "Jaddu used to tell Azhar whatever you want me to do just tell me... Jaddu would then sell the same thing at a heavy price elsewhere."

Bishen Bedi: The former Indian captain while talking to Prabhakar says that "Azhar is involved, Jadeja is involved, Kapil is involved."

JY Lele: The BCCI secretary says it was Kapil, Azhar and Jadeja who were allegedly involved in match-fixing. "So, there are three persons. Azhar, Jadeja and Kapil. What is Jadeja, is all Kapil," he said. In his conversation with Prabhakar, Lele recalls an incident where the then manager of the Indian team Anshuman Gaekwad told him on the eve of the 1997 India-New Zealand match in Sri Lanka that both Azhar and Jadeja would be run out and India will lose the match. Gaekwad knocked at the door of Tendulkar at midnight and had a word with him on the tip off. Tendulkar told him that ``I will snatch an Indian victory.'' He then single handedly ensured an Indian victory both in the semifinal and final against Sri Lanka.

Jagmohan Dalmiya: In the tape, the ICC president while speaking to a tehelka.com website reporter said "I am saying 16 players (of the team) are involved. At least the `A' team guys are not involved." Continuing he says, "Cricket is finished. If I am not able to last, how can players like Sachin and Saurav Ganguly last long if this pressure (of match-fixing) continues." Dalmiya also says he will not resist a government takeover of the BCCI.

AC Muthiah: The BCCI president expresses concern about the possible impact on cricket due to links between cricketers and the underworld. "If those fellows (players) have links with Dawood, that is what I am concerned."

Ravi Shastri: The former Indian captain feels that it was Kapil who made the huge declaration of cash in the voluntary disclosure of income scheme. Shastri says he suspects Ajay Sharma and that even Sachin Tendulkar has mentioned "something about it...everybody knew" (about Ajay Sharma). Shastri adds "The biggest player in the whole drama is Azhar, but he will never get caught because Dawood Ibrahim's hand is on him."

Prashant Vaidya: The former Indian seamer commenting on Kapil's histrionics on television saying "What an actor he (Kapil Dev) is". Paaji has got an offer from Subhash Ghai. I have never seen such a great actor.''

Vishwa Bandhu Gupta: The additional Commissioner of Income Tax alleges in the secretly recorded tape that the person who declared Rs.16 crore under the VDIS scheme was former Indian captain Azharuddin.

Anju Mahendru: The film and TV actress alleges that all the matches of the World Cup, except the semifinals and the final were fixed."

At the end of the screening of the tape, Prabhakar concludes by saying that his main aim was to cleanse the game from the murky dirt it is in. He said "My name also figures in this ...and added that one has to get into dirt to clean it." Well, as the Hindi saying goes, ``Kuch paane ke liye, kuch khona pad ta hai'' (to gain something in life, one has go give up something). In any case, the Prabhakar tapes could mark a turning point in the entire investigation.