Indian news round-up

Indian Government to seek Chawla's deportation

The Delhi police have officially requested the Government to ask their English counterparts to deport Sanjay Chawla, an alleged bookie wanted in connection with the on-going match fixing investigations.

The formal request on the Government's behalf on the deportation of Chawla is to be handed over to the British Home Ministry by the Indian High Comissioner. The order of deportation is to be made on the ground that a prima facie case already exists against him.

Earlier the authorities had revoked Chawla's passport after giving him enough time to travel to India in order to give his testimony.

IT Department to re-open tax files of Gavaskar

The Income Tax department has decided to re-open the files with the tax returns of former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, his father Manohar and maternal uncle Madhav Mantri after the Bombay Gymkhana failed to furnish details of the money found in Gavaskar's locker.

A senior income tax official said in Mumbai on Monday ``It is a major cover up operation by the Bombay Gymkhana authorities. They are not helping at all. The panchnama has been destroyed. There is no evidence left about the contents of the locker and we have decided to request the CBI to grill the Gymkhana's office bearers.'' He added that things will move once the CBI is involved.

Gavaskar's locker was opened in his absence during a routine clean-up by the Bombay Gymkhana authorities last month. Rs 80,000 and an unspecified amount of US dollars were said to have been recovered from the locker.

Former Ranji player Pradip Hazarika passes away

Former Assam Ranji Trophy player Pradip Hazarika passed away in Guwahati on Monday morning after suffering a massive heart attack. Hazarika, 71, is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Hazarika, a wicket keeper batsman, represented Assam in the national competition for many years during the 50's. He was the youngest son of Raishahib Bhagadutta Hazarika of Dharamtul. He hailed from a sporting family which produced sports persoms such as Abani Hazarika, Prabir Hazarika and Gautam Hazarika. Pradip's eldest son Protim Hazarika has also represented the state in the Ranji Trophy.