More sensational disclosures expected

If last week was marked by a number of sensational disclosures in the match fixing scandal, particularly from South Africa where the King Commission commenced its hearing, one can be assured that in the coming week, there will be no dearth of activity both in South Africa and India as the probe gathers momentum. With the King Commission all set to question more players and officials, one can expect some more fireworks from Cape Town. In our own backyard, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to send summons to former players, officials and others who expressed their views on match-fixing during the course of the video interviews to Manoj Prabhakar.

The King Commission which resumed its hearing on Monday was informed by a Reserve Bank representative Leslie Sackstein that the former South African captain Hansie Cronje's attorney, had transferred 10,000 dollars on April 13 and 37,630 dollars the following day. This contradicts earlier reports where Cronje had acknowledged that he had recieved only 8,200 dollars from alleged Indian bookmaker Sanjiv Chawla.

Earlier the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) managing director Ali Bacher testified before the commission on Monday. He started from the sequence of events leading to Cronje's admission to him on April 11. Bacher said "Cronje remained calm when he admitted to accepting money from the bookmaker." He also said that during the course of the conversation, Cronje said that Chawla had spent the night in the same hotel as the South African team when they played the first match of a one-day series against India in Kochi.

In India, the CBI will re-examine former Indian opener Navjot Sidhu and former Indian manager Ajit Wadekar this week. Summons are likely to be served to former Indian captains Mohd. Azharuddin, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.

Indian players, both past and present, who are likely to be issued summons include Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia and Prashant Vaidya. A host of others including prominent personalities like ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya, BCCI chief AC Muthiah and secretary Jaywant Lele and other board officials, former Indian team physio Ali Irani, Mumbai Police Commissioner (Railways) Rakesh Maria, Additional Income Tax Commissioner Vishwa Bandhu Gupta, Congress leader Kamal Nath apart from commentators, film actresses and journalists are likely to be questioned.

The CBI is in a dilemma on whether the recorded conversation between Prabhakar and Indian Sports Minister SS Dhindsa was relevant and whether it needs to check with the minister.

The CBI on Sunday said that it had traced the cellular numbers allegedly called by former Indian player Ajay Sharma to contact certain bookies and cricketers suspected to be involved in the scam. An official connected with the probe talking to a news agency said they were trying to identify the destinations of the calls made and added "We have come across certain cellular telephone numbers used by the cricketer and are trying to establish to whom these calls were made."

Indian police, probing into the match-fixing charges against Cronje said it would seek the report of the King Commission which is inquiring into the scandal. Talking to a news agency, Delhi Police crime branch chief Pradeep Srivastava said "We will ask for the report of the King Commission but only when it completes its investigation into the scandal." Srivastava said "The findings of the commission cannot be used directly as evidence but it will help us in making an opinion (in the case),'' and added that "South Africa is not obliged to hand over the report to us."

Delhi Police said that the immunity offer by the South African government does not extend to India. The sources in the legal unit of the Delhi Police said "The charges against these players hinge on the fact that they cheated people. This is a serious criminal offence in India and hence the prosecution cannot be nullified by immunity offered by another country."

Meanwhile, Delhi police said Cronje's trial in absentia which was set to begin last week, has been delayed as they were yet to receive crucial details from Interpol which has Cronje's voice sample and bank account details that could be used as evidence.

Finally, even as speculation was on whether the immunity offer was valid in India, a South African official said that the offer does not extend to this country.