NEW DELHI, JUNE 22: Former captain Mohammed Azharuddin, whose name has often surfaced in connection with cricket match-fixing allegations, was today questioned by the CBI for more than three hours over his involvement in the scandal.Azharuddin appeared after a summons was sent to him, bureau sources said, adding "he did not come voluntarily."Azharuddin came to the CBI office at about 1100 hrs. This was his first appearance before the agency.According to sources, the Indian batsman was grilled by the investigators about "everything required for the ongoing investigations." Being a prime suspect in a number of alleged instances of match-fixing, the sleuths sought to elicit his response, sources said.The former captain was grilled regarding reported instances of match-fixing in which his name figures, including the sensational testimony by former South African captain Hansie Cronje that bookie Mukesh Gupta was introduced to him by then Indian captain during the 1996 series in Kanpur.Cronje has confessed to having received $80,000 dollars from Gupta to throw matches and for inside information.With the interrogation of Azharuddin, the investigations seem to have come to a crucial stage. It could not be immediately ascertained whether the sleuths were satisfied with Azhar's deposition today or whether they will call him again to get additional details.Emerging from the CBI building at around 2.30 pm, Azharuddin was tightlipped and did not utter a word while making his way through hordes of mediapersons to his car.All rounder Manoj Prabhakar, whose allegations opened the Pandora's box, has also said that he had informed Azharuddin, who was the team captain, about Kapil Dev's "offer" of Rs 25 lakh to him to underplay in a match against Pakistan in the 1994 singer cup series in Colombo.Breaking his silence following Cronje's deposition before the King commission in Cape Town, Azharuddin had denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he was being conspired against by a group of Indian cricketers. Azhar had also said that he was being victimised for belonging to the minority community, a statement which evoked strong reactions in various quarters and the former captain later offered apologies for it.During his cross-examination yesterday, Cronje repeated his allegations against Azharuddin that the former Indian captain had introduced bookie Mukesh to him.Nayan Mongia and former pace bowler Prashant Vaidya who Prabhakar said were witness to the commotion following Kapil's "offer'' have already appeared before the CBI.Amiong the officials, former Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) president I S Bindra and Delhi and district cricket association (DDCA) secretary and former manager Sunil Dev have also apperared before the agency.
