VADODARA, NOV 10: The sordid saga of match-fixing is still not over for tainted wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia. With the Vadodara range of Income-Tax seeking permission from higher authorities for ``scrutinising'' the cricketer's tax returns, Mongia could well be back in the dreaded spotlight.The scrutiny has apparently been triggered by the Central Bureau of Investigation's recent report on match-fixing, which indicted the wicketkeeper and led to a ban on him.However, the fact that Mongia's returns showed a phenomenal increase - particularly after 1995 - could also have had a hand to play. According to a senior I-T official, ``Early in 1990, his yearly income was shown around Rs 7 lakh, but in the later part of the year it touched an astounding Rs 56 lakh,'' a senior official said. Mongia, in his assessment report, quoted sponsorships as the major source of income, but I-T officials refuse to digest this, particularly when the cricketer is accused of taking money to fix matches.Interestingly, Mongia was the only cricketer who was let off during the nationwide I-T raids on cricketers. All other players who were indicted by the CBI report were raided by the department. Highly reliable sources said the permission was sought as the Delhi headquarters of the department had issued a ``blanket ban'' on scrutiny of returns owing to administrative reasons. ``As a number of administrative changes - like creation of more I-T zones - are to be made, a freeze was ordered on the assessment,'' an official said.Due to this the Vadodara range shot off a letter to the Chief Commissioner of I-T, Gujarat seeking permission to scrutinise Mongia's returns. Commissioner V N Srivastava confirmed that permission had been sought, but added that it was ``routine administrative procedure.''Sources here said days before raids were carried out on other cricketers, senior officials in the I-T commissionerate had expressed their willingness. However, the investigation wing had then suggested a ``wait and watch policy.'' ``A number of officials, including the Commissioner, were all for the raids but the investigation wing was apprehensive, which is why the raids were put off,'' a senior official said.Once the department gets the permission, sources said, a team of investigators will question Mongia and seek details on the ``source of income.'' ``There is lot of explaining which the cricketer has to do, specially after the damning revelations in the CBI report,'' an official said. The investigations will cover the entire gambit of assets possessed by the cricketer and the department has already started the ground work. ``We have begun collecting details about his assets and after getting consent will carry out in-depth investigations,'' sources said. The investigation wing of the department is already on the job.Mongia was not available for comments as he is reported to be in Mumbai.
