Dhindsa summons Muthiah to Delhi
Onkar Singh in Delhi
Union Minister for Sports Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Wednesday afternoon released the Central Bureau of Investigation's report on its match-fixing probe at a crowded press conference. He announced
that he has sent copies of the report to the Union home ministry and ministry of law and justice for
their opinion on certain issues.
"I have sent the report to the ministry of law and
justice for its opinion... whether on the basis of the
present evidence the CBI could file a case against
some of the players involved in match-fixing. I
have also asked for the opinion of the ministry of
home affairs, because the agency had cautioned that if
no measures are taken rightaway then the underworld
would take over match-fixing if not already involved,"
Dhindsa told rediff.com.
The minister evaded a majority of questions regarding
the involvement of foreign players and how much
evidence the CBI had to name them in the report.
"I would say anything on this matter only after I get legal opinion," he said.
When told that additional solicitor general of India Harish Salve had
already given his opinion -- that there is no case made
out against any of the players involved -- the minister said there is no harm in getting a second opinion
on the issue.
"I feel that the people of India have been cheated and there is a need to restore the confidence of the people. The game is in a mess and needs to be cleaned up. I have called BCCI
president A C Muthiah and asked him to see me on November 3. I would take his opinion on the matter
and see what action does the board intend to take
against the named players.
"The functioning of the board also needs to be toned up. After this meeting, I
have called a meeting of sports ministers on
November 22 to discuss how to clean up the administration in various games. Thereafter, I plan to
call the sports officials of various sports bodies,"
he said.
Will you have new law to deal with match-fixing?
"I would recommend to the Government of India to have
a new law so that we could do away with the menace of
match-fixing. Cricket is a good game close to the
heart of the people so it must be cleaned up. The
match-fixing investigation was ordered because the
people wanted this matter to be probed. The matter
was raised in Parliament also. The CBI has finally submitted its report and we are still in the
process of working on it," Dhindsa said.
Are you still going to table the report in Parliament?
"Of course, we are going to table the
report in Parliament. We made it public because
we thought that the people had the right to know what
the CBI has found out. Secondly, it is not a secret report," he clarified.
Will you impose some kind of ban on the players?
"It is for the BCCI to decide what to do next. I have sent copies of the report to the board president. When
he comes to Delhi and meets me then we will discuss this matter at length," said the minister.
Some journalists asked Dhindsa if he would be lenient towards Mohammad Azharuddin and Manoj Prabhakar since they had admitted their involvement in the sordid affiar before the CBI.
"I had made this announcement of leniency after I read in the newspapers about the admission of his guilt by the former South African captain Hansie Cronje in match-fixing. But nobody came forward then. Now they have made admissions before the agency after they came to know that they had no choice but to do so," the minister replied.
Why has the agency depended heavily on the information provided by Mukesh Gupta?
"The CBI officers must have had good reason to do so," he said.
Dhindsa concluded by saying that he will hold another press conference after receiving legal opinion from the law ministry.
"I will keep you informed," he said.
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