The CBI team starts probe in right earnest

The two member Central Bureau of Investigation team, consisting of CBI Joint Director RN Sawani and Deputy Inspector General YP Singh, who are in England to end the existing stalemate over the interrogations of bookie Sanjeev Chawla and former Indian Test cricketer Ajay Sharma, have started their investigations in right earnest.

Quoting CBI sources, the Press Trust of India reported that the team is to seek the help of Scotland Yard to interrogate Sanjeev Chawla, the prime accused in the ongoing match fixing scandal and are also likely to record the statements of Ajay Sharma, who is at present playing league cricket in England. Ajay Sharma's name cropped up during the Delhi police investigations of bookmakers' links with cricketers and is alleged to have been a conduit between the two. He has since denied the charges.

The PTI also reported that the CBI team would verify during their investigations if any Indian cricketer holds a bank account in Britain and whether any significant transactions were made into the account with the help of the Scotland Yard. The report adds that the CBI had found during the interrogations of certain bookies in Mumbai that money was transferred into the accounts of certain Indian cricketers through 'hawala' transactions. During their week long stay in England the team would also hold discussions with Interpol officials in London for the extradition of some bookmakers.

Meanwhile the Delhi police, who rocked the cricketing world in early April with their allegations of match fixing against Hansie Cronje, have urged the CBI team to request the extradition of Sanjeev Chawla since the absence of Chawla has virtually put a halt to their investigations.

Speaking to United News of India, Delhi Police Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma said that he had requested the CBI team in London to pursue the matter with the British authorities and Scotland Yard. Delhi Police have already made a request to the Interpol, through the CBI, for Chawla's extradition to India in order to speed up the investigation process. The Indian government has already revoked Chawla's passport in an effort to bring him to book.