CBI identifies cellphone used by Ajay Sharma

Bureau sources told UNI that efforts are being made to trace the destination of the calls made by these mobile phones. “We have come across certain cellular telephone numbers used by the cricketer and are trying to establish to whom these calls were made,” said an official closely associated with the investigation.

The numbers are part of the information gathered by the CBI against the former Delhi captain, presently in London serving a local cricket club. His contract with the Padiham cricket club is likely to expire in September after which the agency is expected to question him about his alleged involvement in the bookie-cricketer nexus. Ajay Sharma has also expressed his willingness to appear before the premier investigating agency.

CBI has not clarified whether it would or was making efforts to get him here before the expiry of the contract.

The agency, according to sources, has gathered sufficient evidence to indicate the cricketer’s complicity in match-fixing and betting through his close connections with bookies. The evidence is apparently sufficient to initiate proceedings against Sharma.

“The investigation so far indicates that Ajay Sharma has close links with certain top bookies and his involvement in match-fixing is also likely,” the sources had said earlier.

The examination of Ajay Sharma is likely to provide several leads to the CBI which has so far been carrying out the investigation without any specific clues or leads. His interrogation is also important in view of the largescale allegations of his close association with bookies.

Certain people during their examination by the CBI have also understood to have pointed fingers towards his complicity in the case.

Meanwhile, the CBI will be issuing summons to Indian coach Kapil Dev, former skipper Mohammed Azharuddin and commentators Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar.

Apart from them, summons for appearance are also likely to be issued to hard-hitting batsman Ajay Jadeja, wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, ex-India medium pacer Prashant Vaidya and a host of present and past cricketers and BCCI officials, commentators, certain government officials, journalists, a politician, a cine star, bookies and businessmen.

CBI sources told UNI today that Sidhu and Wadekar could appear before the premier investigating agency on any of the next seven days. However, they refused to specify when exactly are the two deposing. Sidhu, who has confirmed that he would be appearing, and Wadekar were quizzed by the CBI in New Delhi and Mumbai respectively in the second week of May.

About others, the CBI said, “they are likely to be issued summons for appearance during the next week.” Presently, the CBI is busy working out the schedule, timing and sequence of the examination of these people. In all probability, they would be asked to depose before the bureau at the earliest.

Immunity not for India
Johannesburg: An offer of immunity by South African prosecutors to sacked cricket captain Hansie Cronje does not extend to legal proceedings currently under way against him in India, an official said today.

"India is a totally different issue," the official told The Sunday Independent

, adding the South African Government had given no guarantee against Cronje’s possible extradition to India.