Jadeja interrogated for over seven hours by IT officials

Ajay Jadeja has tried hard to maintain a low profile ever since the match fixing controversy broke. Unlike other players whose names have figured in the growing controversy, Jadeja has shied away from the press. Until recently that is. When he was away in America on a personal visit, and then went to England to play a benefit match, Income Tax officials swooped in on the offices, residences and bank lockers of various cricketers. Ajay Jadeja was one of those players.

On returning from London, Jadeja had his first encounter with Income Tax officials when a lap top he was carrying was seized. Yesterday, the investigations progressed to a higher gear when Jadeja himself was grilled by sleuths from the IT department. Agencies report that the examination began at 11.15 am and lasted over seven hours. The interrogation took place at the Jhandewalan branch of the IT department. Jadeja was accompanied to the interrogation by his brother Ajit. Jadeja is the second cricketer, after Md Azharuddin, to be grilled by IT authorities.

The interrogation came in the wake of examination of documents found in a locker owned jointly by Jadeja and his mother in State Bank of India. The locker is said to have contained documents relating to various assets in addition to some jewellery. When investigations of this kind take place, it is almost assumed that there will be leaks to the press. This time however, the sensitivity of information and high stakes involved have forced IT officials to remain tightlipped. Nothing has been made public about the contents of the locker thus far.

Emerging from the interrogation, Jadeja appeared confident of himself. He told waiting journalists that he had "answered all queries." He further added that he was innocent and blamed the media for blowing the issue out of proportion.