Kapil meets Dhindsa, asks to speed up probe

"I haven't committed a crime. What I did was to fail to comply with the law" said David Dinkins, New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes. The collective sentiments expressed by those in the match fixing scandal seem to be similar to the New York City Mayor. There are two different aspects to consider in his statement. One, to deny and the other, to downplay their failure to comply with the law.

Those who have deposed before the investigation agency have either denied or expressed having no knowledge about some of the incidents that may have happened over a period of time. The income tax department too is making some progress in the case to determine the non-tax payers and the amount of wealth amassed.

With no time frame being fixed, people who have been at the centre of the storm have started becoming restless. With the law taking its own time instead of taking its course, former Indian captain Kapil Dev met the Union Sports Minister SS Dhindsa in New Delhi on Wednesday with a request to speed up the process. It is understood that the Indian coach urged the minister to expedite the CBI probe as the delay was affecting the players.

Talking to a news agency, Dhindsa said "We had a discussion over the entire issue and Kapil Dev requested for bringing the case to its logical conclusion so that players could concentrate on the game." Asked on the time frame for completion of the case, Dhindsa deftly evaded a direct reply, only saying that he was confident that the CBI would be able to expose the cricketers and others involved in the scandal. He was again of the view that the premier investigation agency was moving on the right track.

Reiterating his stand on whether the charges would stand in the court of law, Dhindsa said "Once the names are out, the public will decide whether they should play for India or not. A public sentence is worse than jail." It is also believed that the CBI has started a re-examination of statements made by cricketers and officials concerned to the agency and is likely to call them for another round of questioning soon. Kapil Dev was not available for comment.

In a related development, the evergreen star of the match fixing drama Manoj Prabhakar said he was optimistic that the CBI would pursue the case to a logical conclusion. Prabhakar, talking to a newspaper in Lucknow, said the CBI is doing its work honestly. "They may take some time but they will be able to unearth the truth and justify my stand."

Souding hopeful, Prabhakar said "The CBI has sufficient evidence. It has its own working style. So it is possible that there may be some delay. But they should not be very far from their catches. If this happens, the game would be cleansed and more dedicated and patriotic young cricketers will be shinning on the horizon."

On Hansie Cronje's contradictory deposition before the King Commission, Prabhakar said that "his opponents were well connected. I know their capabilities and resourcefulness. I am shocked at the way Cronje took a U-turn. I would be least surprised if he has not been forced to alter his statement about a key Indian player in the scandal."

On his role in the entire affair, Prabhakar requested the media to help him in his endeavour to identify those involed. He said "Whatever I am doing or trying to prove to the public, it should come out as it is. I have risked my life and the well-being of my family in this case.''

With the CBI on the job, ably assisted by other agencies in the endeavour and the government sticking to its stand on punishing the guilty, one hopes the CBI completes their task at the earliest for a hectic schedule is ahead of the Indians at the start of the coming season.