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CBI prepared to take over match-fixing case

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

The Central Bureau of Investigation is all geared up to take over the inquiry into the match-fixing controversy should the Government of India decide to transfer the case from the Delhi police.

S M Khan, deputy principal information officer in charge of public relations, told rediff.com that the agency has no problem investigating the matter.

"We have been reading newspaper reports that members of Parliament and everyone who loves the game of cricket have demanded that the CBI look into the case. So far we have nothing to do with the matter. But should the Government of India decide to hand over the case to us, we will be only too pleased to help."

Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said the Centre is not averse to handing the case over to the CBI. "I have noted the views expressed by the honourable members of Parliament. But I would like to take a final decision only after the April 27 meeting of the BCCI and some of the present and past players of the game, including coaches and managers of the Indian cricket team. I know all cricket-lovers are looking for clean cricket and want this mess cleared up once for all," Dhindsa told rediff.com

Vijay Kumar Malhotra, BJP member of the Lok Sabha from South Delhi and a keen sports administrator, said the time had come to end wheeler-dealing in cricket. "The case which is now being investigated by the Delhi police should be handed over to the CBI for further investigation," he told reporters.

While CBI Director R Raghavan met Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, two of his junior officers called on Sports Minister Dhindsa to discuss the transfer of the match-fixing case. But the CBI spokesman said he did not know what the meetings were about. "I don't know in what connection these meetings took place. These may be routine meetings," Khan said.

Meanwhile, Delhi police officers privately admit that they are going slow on the investigation as it is likely to start all over again, with the CBI.

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