MUMBAI, June 24: One of Indian cricket's greatest off-field drama reached a conclusive phase when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed a one-man inquiry committee of former Chief Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud to cut into the heart of the matter.Asked to probe allegations of bribing and a betting racket involving players of the national team, BCCI officials and journalists, the 76-year-old retired justice was optimistic that the lead character, former Test all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar, who triggered off the issue by stating that he was offered Rs 25 lakh by a teammate to throw away a match, will divulge the culprit's name.``I think it could be possible to persuade him to reveal the name,'' remarked the former Supreme Court judge in a brief chat with The Indian Express this evening. While acknowledging the fact that Prabhakar has refused to name the player citing threats to his life, Chandrachud said, ``I might give him adequate protection. And why do you forget that basically I am still a lawyer,'' he added with a chuckle.Chandrachud was candid to admit that the one-man committee has no legal status. ``This is a private commission appointed by a private body. It is like any domestic inquiry instituted by a reputed all India organisation. I have no statutory authority. My findings will have importance for the BCCI and it is for them to decide on the further course of action.''Would Prabhakar's merely oral testimony be enough to legally convict the player who is alleged to have offered the bribe ? ``It would be the basis for the BCCI to file a police complaint. Gambling is serious matter,'' he opined.A Chief Justice for 13 years (1972-85), Chandrachud, who is handling a sports-related case for the first time, expressed his helplessness if the concerned persons refuse to appear before him. ``Nothing can be done in that case. I can only request them. If he happens to be a member of the cricket team, then I can seek help from the BCCI,'' he explained.An avid cricket fan himself, Chandrachud feels that the very institution of an enquiry committee will serve as deterrent to the ones indulging in betting. ``Assuming that we get to know the name of the player, one can well imagine his plight. There would be no benefit matches for him, his employers will dump him and no monetary help would be forthcoming,'' he said. ``All this while everybody knew that nothing happened. But the formation of the committee will instill a sense of fright in the minds of cricketers. The very fear of losing the fabulous amounts that a national cricketer stands to gain would go in a long way in putting a halt to these acts,'' feels Chandrachud. Excited at handling a case which involves lakhs of persons, ``especially people who stand in the queue and keep awake the whole night for a ticket to watch the match,'' Chandrachud revealed that the terms of reference will be finalised on Thursday.He disclosed that he would be stationed at Mumbai and begin the preliminary work next week. ``I don't have any work place now and I would be requesting the BCCI to provide me one to begin the proceedings,'' he added.
