The Calcutta connection with betting kingpins

Six bookies of the city had revealed earlier that they had connections with the two betting kingpins Sanjeev Chawla and Rajesh Kalra. These bookies had been arrested last year and during interrogation they had revealed the names of the two accused. This was disclosed by senior police officials in Calcutta on Wednesday.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Section) RK Pachananda informed reporters that last year during the India-New Zealand one day series, police had arrested Anil Agarwal, Kishen Saraf, Mahindra Karwat, Palash Nahata, Mushtafa Palanpushwala and Brijendra Singh. The six had then stated that they had connections with Chawla and Kalra. The police department here had also obtained the manuscripts of the telephonic conversations between these six and Kalra and Chawla. However, the police had then failed to go ahead with the case as the six here had managed to obtain bail. "Since then they have gone into hiding, " said Pachnanda.

The state police however, will be forwarding all these documents to the Delhi police to help them in their investigation. Another senior police official also added that the six had good connections with some of the Indian cricketers and some other influential social persons. "We would not like to name these persons at present simply because we have not collected enough evidence against them." However, the state police department feel that a number of other truths will come out with the disclosures made by the deposed South African captain Hansie Cronje.

Meanwhile, the captain of the Indian team Sourav Ganguly has steadfastly refused to comment on this incident. Ganguly, who left for Lancashire on Tuesday night constantly said `no comment' on the entire issue. However, after much persuasion, he said, "I do not believe that we won the one day series against South Africa easily. In fact, every run, wicket and catch was hard-earned." Other than that all he had to say was, "The matter does not concern any Indian cricketer.''

However, other former Indian cricketers in Calcutta have expressed shock at the outcome of events. Former Indian opener and the present Sheriff of Calcutta, Pankaj Roy said, "I am really too disgusted to say anything. If cricket is now controlled by the bookies, it makes me feel ashamed to think of myself as a former cricketer."

On the other hand, Arun Lal said, "one has to take the strictest possible measure to tackle this problem. There should be an independent investigation to bring out the full truth behind the betting incidents and the players found guilty should be banned."

Gopal Bose, who is also a member of the pitch committee of the BCCI has written in his regular column in a newspaper in Calcutta, "even the investigations carried out by the ICC should be reviewed and questioned. Only a few days back, they had stated that betting did not exist in cricket. They are also at fault for the situation getting out of hand. It is their actions that should be viewed with scrutiny. More than the players it is the ICC that has allowed the situation to reach this stage.''