CBI says media-reports on match-fixing inquiry not authentic’

NEW DELHI, OCT 21: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today clarified that media-reports on the match-fixing inquiry were only spe...

NEW DELHI, OCT 21: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today clarified that media-reports on the match-fixing inquiry were only speculative’ and not authentic’.

The reports had allegedly leaked out the CBI report into match-fixing and referred to the names of at least four cricketing personalities – Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar and Ajay Sharma – as being involved in the controversy.

The reports also suggested that the CBI had given a clean chit to people like Kapil Dev, Nikhil Chopra, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Nayan Mongia.

Story continues below this ad

Bureau sources said, “As far as the CBI is concerned, we have not submitted the report yet and have not made any report public. These reports are only speculative and not authentic.”

Meanwhile, Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa refused to comment on media-reports regarding cricket match-fixing.

“All the reports are speculative. I will not like to comment on them,” the Minister said at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport where he had come to receive the body of former star footballer, Jarnail Singh.

“The CBI is yet to submit its report to me. I have already said that once the report is received, it will be tabled in Parliament,” he said.

The winter session of Parliament begins on November 20.

Story continues below this ad

However, the Minister expressed anguish that such questions were being asked on a solemn occasion. “I feel this is not the right occasion to raise this issue. We are all to pay our respects to a great footballer.”

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president A C Muthiah said he would react to the CBI report on match-fixing only after he officially received the report from the Union Government.