Govt may seek Scotland Yard’s help in match-fixing probe

"When the Scotland Yard team comes here to investigate the allegations of match-fixing against English cricketers, we can also seek their help in our own investigations," he said.

Stating that the Government would provide full protection to all those who provide information in the match-fixing probe, he ruled out legalising betting.

Asked about reports that a "big person" was involved in the match-fixing controversy, he said all aspects of the case would be taken into account during the investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Replying to a short notice question by Shyama Singh (Cong) as to why the Government had delayed inquiring into the match-fixing case 20 days after the facts came to light giving enough time for destroying of vital documents by the BCCI, Sports Minister S S Dhindsa said the Government did not want to give the impression that it had acted in haste.

Besides, the Government wanted to take Parliament into confidence before ordering a CBI probe, he said.

Asked whether the Government proposed to take action against a cricketer who had entertained a bookie in Sharjah during a tournament there in 1995 after the bookie was thrown out of the press enclosure, Dhindsa said even though it was an old matter, but it could be taken into account if it was brought to the notice of the investigating authorities.

The Minister said the probe cannot be time-bound as the investigating team would have to interact with various other agencies including Interpol and foreign governments and this would take time to be completed.

Dhindsa said the BCCI is proposing to renew the code of conduct for cricketers and this is expected to be finalised within three months.

On inquiry into involvement of foreign players in the match-fixing case, he said the CBI can only probe into the role Indian players.

Meanwhile, the CBI on Tuesday registered a prelimnary inquiry into the match-fixing scandal after receiving a formal letter from the Sports Ministry to conduct a broad-based probe into the scandal.

The letter, sent by the Ministry, asked the agency to make a general inquiry into the allegation of match-fixing, CBI sources said adding, the special Crime Branch team of the agency is looking into the case.

The inquiry will cover all the allegations levelled by some cricketers and members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the past.

The CBI has also been empowered to probe any other scandal or allegations concerning the game.

The inquiry was ordered by the Government following mounting pressure by various quarters to hand over the case to the CBI.

Delhi police had alleged that South African cricketer Hansie Cronje, four of his teammates and a London-based NRI Sanjeev Chawla had fixed the cricket series with India.

Investigations into the alleged involvement of Cronje in match-fixing during his team’s tour to India would be conducted by the Delhi police.