BCCI cracks whip on Indian players

The Board may hand over issues dealt with by the Chandrachud inquiry committee to official investigating agencies, Muthiah told PTI.

"The Justice Chandrachud committee only inquired into the allegations (of match-fixing against Indian players) then and it was not an investigation. We may even reopen that inquiry and hand over issues that cropped up at the Chandrachud enquiry to an investigating agency," he said.

Muthiah was responding to a question whether BCCI favoured reopening the Chandrachud committee inquiry, a day after disgraced South African cricketer Hansie Cronje admitted to "dishonesty" after Delhi police charged him with involvement in betting and match-fixing during last month’s one-day series in India.

In Mumbai, Chandrachud too said the probe against Indian cricketers, who were absolved by him three years ago, can be reopened “only if any Indian player’s name crops up.”

Chandrachud told PTI here that he had absolved the Indian cricketers of wrongdoing in the absence of sufficient evidence in the 1997 inquiry instituted by the Indian cricket board, following accusations by former all rounder Manoj Prabhakar.

“However, if any of the Indian cricketers’ names come up, as claimed by the Delhi police, then the inquiry can be reopened”, he added.

“In case none of the Indians are found to be involved in the present controversy surrounding South African cricketers during their recent tour of India, then there is no need for reopening the probe”, Chandrachud opined.

Meanwhile, expressing serious concern over the developments after Cronje admitted his involvement — though he denied receiving any money from bookies to fix matches in the series won by India 3-2 — Muthiah said "the whole episode gives us great concern.

"On one side we are relieved no Indian player has been named by the police. At the same time, we have to be cautious for the behaviour of our players. We have given our players enough warnings," he said.

Asked what steps BCCI proposed to take to prevent involvement of any Indian player in betting and match-fixing, he said specific clauses were inserted in the contracts signed by the players.

"The clauses regarding involvement in betting etc., are part and parcel of our agreement.

"It is also clear in our agreement with the players, which they sign everytime they are picked to play for the country, that they should not have any contact with bookmakers or involve in betting and that any such thing crop up, the player concerned should immediately inform the team management," he added.

Meanwhile in New Delhi, Kishan Kumar, the brother of slain music baron Gulshan Kumar, today denied any involvement in the sensational match-fixing scandal involving Cronje.

"Having friendship is no crime," Kumar told a crowded press conference at the Kailash hospital where he is being treated for angina problem since Friday last.

"I know Chawla (prime accused in the case) for the last 20 years and Rajesh Kalra (the only accused arrested in the case so far) for the past three-four years. Both are my good friends," he said.

Asked about the reported statement to the police that he had placed Rs 40 lakh as betting amount, the Bollywood actor said "I did not put any money in betting."

Kumar categorically denied that he had made the payment for Chawla’s stay at "Taj Regency" hotel at Kochi. "No I did not pay Chawla’s Kochi hotel bill."

However, Kumar said whenever Chawla came to India or he went to London "we arranged for each other’s stay and extended hospitality."

Kumar claimed that he had seen Chawla last time during the latter’s visit to Mumbai for opening some shops in the metropolis.

Earlier, sleuths of Crime Branch of Delhi Police today briefly interrogated Kumar for the first time after his name figured in the match-fixing scandal.

Asked why Kalra has named him in the scandal in his disclosure statement to the police, Kumar said "I am deeply hurt and worried why Kalra took my name."

"God has given me enough money. I need not indulge in any such (betting) activities," he said.

"After the death of my brother (Gulshan Kumar) I am looking after the family business for which I had even left my acting career," he said adding "I am too busy to indulge in such things."

Asked if he had any links with the underworld mafia, he said "No. I do not have any links. But I have been receiving threats from Mumbai-based don Ali Budesh."

"They (Ali’s men) even opened fire at my shop in Mumbai about four months back and have been repeatedly threatening me for the last six months. That is why my security has been strengthened," he said.

After the match-fixing case came to light neither me nor Chawla contacted each other, he said.

To another question, he said he was not seeking anticipatory bail. "No, there is no such move at present," he said claiming that he was innocent and the truth will come out in the next 10-15 days.

Police right: Advani

Indore Union Home Minister L K Advani today supported Delhi police action on the issue against South African skipper Hansie Cronje and others.

"The police has done a right thing and not committed any mistake in the case and the fear that it had acted in a hurried manner does not stand scrutiny following Cronje’s admission on the issue", Advani told reorters here.