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Diplomat may have triggered off Cronje's confession

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Why did Hansie Cronje confess?

A fierce attack of conscience? Or perhaps, the South African authorities faced him with evidence?

Indian intelligence sources believe that it was South African High Commissioner to India Maite E Nakoana Mashebane who was responsible for the cricketer's volte-face.

Apparently, the ministry of external affairs had presented the incriminating tapes when she visited Joint Secretary Pawan K Verma on April 9.

"We knew that international pressure would mount once Cronje's name was mentioned. The ministry obviously showed the necessary documents to the lady," a source said.

"Once the evidence was provided there was very little scope for Cronje but admit that he had been involved. The lady high commissioner must have told the South African authorities about the piece of evidence. That must have clinched the issue," he added.

As far as the Government of India is concerned, the source continued, the matter was practically over now that Cronje has been sacked.

Meanwhile, Rajesh Kalra, who was arrested earlier, complained of chest pain in the morning and was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. The directorate of enforcement said in court that it no longer required him for interrogation, and hence he could be sent to jail.

In another development, Metropolitan Magistrate Sangeeta Dhinga accepted the enforcement directorate's plea that Kishen Kumar, arrested on Saturday, be shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences under police guard. Dhingra passed the order after going through the medical records made available by the Apollo Hospital.

Delhi police spokesman Ravi Pawar said that the investigating officials had written a formal letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, asking for details of South Africa's tour in India.

He said that besides Kumar and Kalra, no other person has been arrested. "We are not following any Karol Bagh-based businessman," he clarified. "The names of Kishen Kumar and Sanjeev Chawla along with their passport numbers have been given to the immigration officials so that necessary action can be taken."

Why hasn't the Delhi police released Sanjeev Chawla's picture to the media? A senior official said that since the identity of the accused is known to the investigating agency there was no need to give the picture to the media.

The spokesman also denied that the names of some Indian players figures prominently in the investigations. "It is categorically stated that Indian players did not figure at any stage of the investigations that have been conducted so far," he said.

Minister of Sports Sukhdev Singh Dhinda denied that he had been pulled up by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for stating in Chandigarh that the government was thinking of legalising betting in cricket.

"The prime minister has not said anything to me. I have already clarified that I was misquoted. I never said that we would legalise betting," Dhindsa said.

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