Azhar a 'major link' for underworld operations

NEW DELHI, NOV. 2. The former captain, Mohammed Azharuddin, has surfaced as a major link for the underworld mafia operation in match-fixing and betting in India, the CBI investigation into the worst-ever cricketing scandal has indicated.

The investigation has revealed the involvement of at least two top underworld dons - Anees Ibrahim, brother of Dawood Ibrahim, and Abu Salem - who are wanted in connection with many heinous crimes including Bombay bomb blasts, and the close proximity of Azhar with them. Azhar was apparently ``doing'' (fixing) matches for Anees, the investigation revealed.

Even former team physio Dr. Ali Irani, who worked as a conduit for the former captain, has been quoted by the agency in its report as saying that Azhar had told him once that he was ``doing'' matches for Anees Ibrahim and hence, he cannot ``do'' with anyone else. However, the agency failed to establish the exact number of matches that Azhar fixed for the don, operating from Dubai, a destination close to Sharjah where Indian team has been frequenting for various tournaments.

Azhar was even contacted by Abu Salem for ``doing'' matches for him. But Azhar, apparently, turned down the order as he was already ``working'' for Anees Ibrahim.

The CBI report said, ``the evidence against Azharuddin clearly establishes the fact that he took money from bookies/punters to fix cricket matches and also the fact that the underworld had approached him to fix matches for them.'' The 162-page report, made public yesterday, has warned that if no corrective and concrete steps were taken immediately, the Dubai-based underworld mafia would spread their tentacles in the betting syndicate and would soon control the whole operations.

``There are clear signals that the mafias have started taking interest in the betting racket and can be expected to take overall control of the activity, of not checked immediately with a firm hand,'' the report said. It appears that what may have been small-time wagering (which to some extent is inevitable) has now been replaced by an organised syndicate, and this syndicate has started interfering with the purity of the game.

A national shame

The game has lost a considerable degree of credibility already, and it will be a matter of national shame if the problems which are, to some extent apparent from the evidence gathered and narrated in the report, are not immediately and decisively resolved.

Bookie Mukesh Kumar Gupta alias M.K., who has surfaced as the prime betting personality in the present scandal, told the investigators that he met Azharuddin sometime in 1995 through Ajay Sharma at hotel Taj Palace in New Delhi and paid him Rs. 50 lakhs as ``advance'' with an arrangement that the amount would be adjusted against the matches Azhar would ``do'' for M.K. Azhar in his statement admitted that he met M.K. through Ajay Sharma.

Ajay Sharma, a close associate of Azhar, in his statement before the agency said Azhar had telephonically confirmed to him that he had received money from M.K., the report said. Azhar told CBI officials that M.K. had offered him Rs. 1.25 crores but the deal did not materialise.

``However, the statement of M.K. corroborated by Ajay Sharma clearly indicates that Azhar was paid at least Rs. 50 lakhs initially to ``fix' matches.

M.K. further stated that Azhar had specifically agreed to ``do'' some matches during the Titan Cup series in 1996. But the Titan Cup final, which India won against South Africa, did not turn out as arranged with Azhar (the money was paid to make India lose the finals).

Azhar provided M.K. ``information'' about two tests at Ahmedabad and Calcutta in 1996 series against South Africa. He accepted receiving money from M.K. to fix some matches, but has said he ``did'' only two matches - Titan Cup match in 1996 at Rajkot and ``some'' match in Pepsi Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, in 1997.

Irani accepted commission

M.K. has further said he was introduced to Dr. Irani by Azhar during the Ahmedabad test against South Africa in 1996. Dr. Irani has corroborated this statement. M.K. is categorical that some money was paid to Azhar through Dr. Irani who, accepting the fact, disclosed that he used to receive a commission of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 from Azhar for receiving such payments which were running into lakhs, on each occasion. The payment of money through Dr. Irani has been further corroborated by the statement of Anil Steel, the Mumbai- based bookie and an associate of M.K., who has stated that on two occasions he made payments of around Rs. 20-25 lakhs each to Dr. Irani at Nanawati Hospital, on behalf of M.K.

M.K. has further stated that Azhar had introduced Hansie Cronje to him during the third test between India and South Africa at Kanpur in 1996. Azhar has admitted the fact. Further, there is also documentary proof in the form of hotel records which show that M.K. had stayed at hotel landmark in Kanpur where both the teams were staying during the test.

M.K. stated that in the Sahara Cup in 1997 at Toronto, Sangeeta Bijlani, wife of Azhar, used to provide him ``information'' through cell phone which, however, generally proved to be incorrect. Azhar has accepted that he met Ajay Gupta, a bookie, to seek his help in getting a petrol outlet allotted at Bangalore, but later on admitted that Ajay Gupta approached him to ``fix'' matches.

More evidence

There is more documentary evidence in the form of hotel bills paid by bookie Nishit Goel for Azhar's stay at hotel Taj Palace on two occasions - on February 2, 2000 and February 8, 2000.

Azhar in his statement has specifically recalled that he ``did'' the match between India and Pakistan at Jaipur for the Guptas during the Pepsi Cup match, 1999, after which he received around Rs. 10 lakhs from an ``unknown'' person, on behalf of Guptas. In view of the large amount Azhar has received from Guptas and the ``hospitability'' he has enjoyed through them, it is very difficult to believe that he ``did'' only one match for them.

- UNI

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