IND_BETTING_07OCT1997

7 October 1997

Journalists involved in betting scandal?

Upali Rupasinghe in New Delhi

Police and intelligence authorities probing into the Indian cricket betting scandal have learnt that the bridge between bookmakers and cricketers was established by either one or more journalists including a very high profile Calcutta-based sports journalist and television commentator.

``The Asian Age'', a national English daily quating police sources this morning said ``It costs Rs. 10 million to ensure that India looses a match against Pakistan, and another Rs. 3 million to Rs. 4 million to make certain that a key player `loses his touch' during a fixed match''.

``Not every match is controlled by bookmakers. They intervene only when they have ensured that the stakes have become extremely high, the newspaper said.

The police is also examining the close links for the last few years between several journalists and a key suspect in organising cricket betting who was arrested a week ago. It has been established that the journalists and the suspect have in professional contact for the last four to five years.

According to a statement given to ``The Asian Age'' by a Calcutta based bookie,'' journalists are asked to approach players by bookies to fix the fate of the match' and the money is usually paid through illegal transactions.

``The police now has reasons to believe that at least two former Indian Test players as well as three contemporary players may be involved in this illegal cricket betting'' it added.

By Saturday evening police have arrested eight key-men in connection with the multi-million cricket betting scandal. The police also has launched a country wide search for several top businessmen in Calcutta, Bombay and New Delhi who are figured in the list of 2,000 suspects all over the country.

The Criminal Investigation Department interrogated seven of the men under arrest and they have told Bombay bookies are most active in this betting game and play for his stakes.

According to Inspector-General, Intelligence branch, Mr. M. K. Singh, ``This is a very big racket, involving extremely prominent people and it needs proper central investigation''.

Meanwhile, Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal has emerged as the safe heaven for cricket bookies. According to intelligence authorities, the kingpins of the multi-million cricket betting racket have escaped to kathmandu and some are believed to be continuing their operations from there.

In another development, Justice Y. V. Chandrachud, who is heading the official board inquiry into former Test cricketer, Manoj Prabhakar's allegations of corruption among cricket players, is likely to ask 11 journalists to give evidence before him to complete his investigations. Two of them are sports journalists from Calcutta.

Justice Chandrachud had initially announced that the inquiry report will be wrapped up in two more sittings and will be submitted to Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), but the current developments have furthered the scope of the probe leading to a delay in the submission of the report.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)