No witch hunting of players, assures Madhavan

Pursuing his investigation into the betting and match fixing scandal, the BCCI anti-corruption commissioner K Madhavan examined Test off spinner Nikhil Chopra in Chennai on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, he said Chopra was with him from 10 am to 12.30 pm and his statements were recorded. Madhavan said Chopra gave him all the information he had asked for. The bowler also handed over some documents for his perusal. Madhavan said he would submit the report to the BCCI president AC Muthiah "extremely soon."

Madhavan said as he would be busy with the launching of his autobiography in Kochi later this month, he would examine the two others he was supposed to meet, Kapil Dev and Ajit Wadekar by December 30. He said he would submit the overall report to Muthiah latest by January 31. Answering a question, he said he was obligated to examine Kapil Dev again even after the CBI had exonerated him and Madhavan himself had cleared him initially. "I am the BCCI anti-corruption director and when they ask me to pursue the matter afresh I have to accept," he said. He however reiterated that there would be "no witch hunting and the morale of the players would not be affected."

Speaking about Chopra's mood, Madhavan said he found him "relaxed. I got the impression that he had a feeling he would get justice. He looked comfortable. He did not contradict anything that he had said earlier." But Madhavan added that Chopra's testimony did not throw any fresh lead on any other players.

Madhavan said with the submission of the report by January 31, his fresh round of investigation as required by the BCCI would be over. But he would continue to remain the BCCI anti-corruption commissioner and if some fresh evidence was found at any period, he would look into it if asked to.

Giving his overall impressions, Madhavan admitted that there might be some "grey areas." Some might get caught while others might not be caught "because of lack of evidence." Broadly speaking, he agreed that it would be difficult for one or two players to fix a match.

Giving his views as a law enforcer for many years, the former CBI joint director said it might help to legalise betting. "It would be better to streamline it, that way there could be some control over betting." But he made it clear that he was giving this view as an individual and not as a former CBI officer.

Madhavan reiterated that there was "absolutely no pressure" on him from the BCCI or any other quarter. "I had total independence while pursuing the case," he said emphatically. Asked whether he would include a chapter on the case in his autobiography, Madhavan said "it is an on going case. I don't know how it will turn out finally. So I saw no purpose in including it."

Madhavan said personally he felt sad that the players had fallen prey to the temptation of greed and unlawful money. "At my age, (he is 63) I looked upon them as I would look upon a son who is a narcotics addict." But he kept aside his personal feelings while fulfilling his role as anti-corruption commissioner.

Meanwhile, a four-member ICC delegation, led by its anti-corruption unit chief Sir Paul Condon on Tuesday met CBI officials in New Delhi to probe the involvement of foreign players in the betting and match-fixing scandal.

The ICC delegation, which also included Australian Allen Peacock, met Joint Director of CBI's Special Crime Branch RN Sawani, who probed the matchfixing scandal, and others in this connection.