More characters tumble in

By Sutirtho Patronobis

NEW DELHI, APRIL 8. Shady characters from the underworld, a ``failed film actor'', dubious non-resident Indians, mercenary cricketers and manipulative bookies - all of them seem to have wanted their share of the rich pie of match-fixing and betting in cricket judging by police investigations here. The interrogation of Rajesh Kalra - the only person to have been arrested in the sensational scandal allegedly involving five South African cricketers - seems slowly but surely set to blow the lid off the racket. The Delhi police today questioned another man identified as Kishen Kumar. While no senior officer was available for details about the person who apparently is admitted to a hospital, it is learnt that he was the ``failed actor''. Senior Crime Branch officers had earlier denied involvement of any film actor in the racket saying no actor's name had come up during Kalra's interrogation.

There was, however, reason to raise questions about the police claim. For one, it was learnt that an actor - brother of an erstwhile music baron - was a regular visitor at Kalra's home in Greater Kailash Part II here.

During a visit to Kalra's residence on Friday afternoon, his domestic help, Ram Prasad, unwittingly revealed the name of this actor as Kishen Kumar and said he often visited his master's house.

The police also shrugged off queries about the involvement of members of the underworld in the racket.

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