Match fixing: Four months old and counting

Like companies announcing their periodical results, today is exactly four months since match-fixing in the game was first stumbled upon and later unearthed by the Delhi Police. Since then 'Hansiegate' has come a long way with some sensational disclosures, denials, inquiries and finally income-tax raids on Indian players and officials. The raids and the opening of lockers are still not over yet.

With five lockers left to be opened out of the 17 that have been sealed, income tax officials have said that they would open them in a day or two. Sources close to the income tax officials told UNI "We have recorded the preliminary statements of all the people against whom raids were carried out, excluding Ajay Sharma, and will complete the scrutiny of the documents by Monday." It is also expected that if and when the IT department completes its probe, the authorities are likely to hand over the documents relating to match-fixing, which were seized during the raids, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Meanwhile, CBI sources said they would accelerate their probe on the basis of the documents handed over by the IT authorities. CBI sources talking to a news agency said once the documents in all the 17 lockers of cricketers, officials and their associates sealed during the July 20-21 raids were examined, the CBI will decide on questioning these people.

The sources added "We will see the possibility of examining the cricketers after the completion of the income-tax process. Summoning of the cricketers and the officials is possible if we find the documents incriminating. Whether they have already been questioned or not, they will have to make themselves available if required."

In a related development, Union Sports Minister SS Dhindsa had strong words for the Indian players. He said that they lacked the courage to confess about their involvement in the scandal. He again issued a warning that those found guilty would be severely dealt with. Dhindsa said ``we made an offer that anyone who makes a confession could benefit, but unfortunately no one has come forward till date. Now, the only option left was the law to take its own course after the submission of the CBI report to the government."

Talking to reporters in Amritsar, Dhindsa said the Government did not intend to protect any player on whom there was a needle of suspicion. He added "The CBI inquiry will take another month or so and the IT department was still preparing its report on the seizures made from the premises of leading cricketers and Board officials in the raids conducted last month."