Prabhakar introduced bookies to several foreign players
Maximum booty paid to Cronje, Lara, Jones

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: Although bookies and punters have provided evidence of 14 top foreign cricketers’ financial wrongdoings and their involvement in match-fixing and betting, the Central Bureau of Investigation would not conduct any inquiry to verify the available facts against these overseas players.

CBI sources told UNI that there is no question of carrying out any probe into the allegations against the foreign players, as the agency was only directed to probe the match-fixing and betting controversy in India.

However, the specific countries would be informed about the naming of these players in connection with the match-fixing probe in India, the sources said.

Six Pakistanis Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq Saeed Anwar, Salim Malik, Asif Iqbal, England wicket-keeper Alec Stewart, swashbuckling West Indian left-lander Brian Lara, Australian opener Mark Waugh his former team mate Dean Jones, ex-Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda De Silva, former New Zealand stylish opener Martin Crowe and disgraced South African Hansie Cronje are the foreign cricketing personalities named by CBI in the report for taking illegal gratifications from bookies.

Britain has already decided to send its investigators to probe the CBI findings against Stewart, who has been allegedly paid 5000 pounds by Mukesh Kumar Gupta alias MK who shot to fame after being named by Hansie Cronje as the bookie to whom he was introduced by Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin.

Stewart was introduced to MK in 1993 by Manoj Prabhakar, who has accepted this fact. MK told the CBI that he paid 5000 pounds to Stewart in exchange for information about pitch, weather condition, team composition etc whenever England played. MK said apart from providing these information, Stewart refused to fix any match for him.

The maximum bootie of 90,000 dollars to an international cricketer was paid to Cronje by MK in two instalments. MK stated that he was introduced to Cronje by Azhar in 1996 during the India-South Africa test at Kanpur. Azhar, who so far maintained any knowledge of the Cronje claim regarding MK, accepted the fact before the agency.

MK stated that he paid a sum of 40,000 dollars to Cronje on the third day of Kanpur test to ensure that South Africa lost and also as an ‘investment’ for future. He got around 50,000 dollars transferred to the bank account of Cronje in South Africa to ‘fix’ matches when India toured South Africa in 1996-97. It was a different story though that most of the matches did not turn out as arranged with Cronje.

MK disclosed that Prabhakar also introduced him to Brian Lara who was paid 40,000 dollars to underperform in two one-dayers when West Indies toured India in 1994. MK also told the investigators that Prabhakar had tried to ‘telephonically introduce’ him to Gus Logie, who, however, refused to talk to him. Prabhakar admitted this fact.

Mk also paid 40,000 dollars to Australian cricketer Dean Jones to provide him ‘information’ about his team’s strategy, morale, pitch conditions and weather, whenever they played. Prabhakar was once again the cricketer who introduced MK to Jones in Sri Lanka during a festival match. Jones refused the offer and told MK that Alan Border had seen him talking to MK.

Next to be introduced to MK by Prabhakar was stylish Australian left-hander Mark Waugh during a six-a-side tournament in Hong Kong. Waugh was paid 20,000 dollars for providing information about pitch, weather, team strategy and morale, whenever Australia played.

Arvinda D’Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga were also introduced to him by Prabhakar. Both of them fixed the Lucknow test in 1994 against India for which 15,000 dollars were paid to D’Silva. D’Silva had telephonically introduced him to Martin Crowe in New Zealand in 1991.

MK met Martin Crowe later the same year at his residence and Crowe’s wife Simone was also present during the meeting. Crowe was paid 20,000 dollars to provide information about the pitch, team composition and weather whenever his team played. Crowe, however, refused to fix any matches for him.

Prabhakar also introduced him to Salim Malik at Delhi before a match between Wills Cup winners of Pakistan and Wills Cup winners of India. The match MK was referring to was played between Habib Bank of Pakistan and Wills-XI of India on October 13, 1991 at Ferozeshah Kotla. Malik was paid Rs eight lakh to fix that match without the knowledge of Javed Miandad who was captaining the Pakistani side. MK did not know who were the other players roped in by Malik for the match which India won after a tight finish.

Malik also provided information during the Singer Cup in Sri Lanka in 1994 that Pakistan would lose a match against Australia. The information turned true.

Rattan Mehta, a big time punter of Delhi, has stated that he is on very friendly terms with some Pakistani players including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq. He also said that he has, on some occasions sought their ‘judgement’ on matches involving Pakistan. He had in return given ‘small gifts’ to Pakistan players on a few occasions.

Another bookie Anil Steel was very friendly to Asif Iqbal, former Pakistani captain. Iqbal, who was given jewellery items as gifts by the bookie, had introduced him to Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya at Sharjah in 1996. (UNI)

HC orders EC to give criminal history of
candidates to voters

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: In a landmark judgement, the Delhi High Court today directed the Election Commission (EC) to provide the electorate with information through media about the criminal background of candidates in Parliament and Assembly elections.

Exercising its power as custodian of people’s fundamental rights, the court ordered that the "EC shall secure to the voters information whether a candidate is accused of any offence punishable with imprisonment? if so, the details thereof."

The details about the assets possessed by the candidates, their spouses and dependent relations, facts giving insight into their competence, capacity and suitability, including details of educational qualification, should also be made to the electorates, a bench, comprising Justice Anil Dev Singh and Justice M K Sharma, said.

Stating that people had the right to information under Article 19 of the Constitution, the bench said the Commission should issue direction to the Centre, State Governments and Intelligence Bureau to get requisite and relevant information about candidates as the authorities were duty bound to do so.

"It shall also be incumbent upon a candidate standing for the election to the Parliament or State Legislature to submit the requisite information at the time of filing of the nomination papers with the Commission," the court said.

The judgement came on a petition by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) seeking direction to the Commission to put together the information on criminality of all the candidates in elections and make it available to the public.

Rejecting Government’s contention that the court’s power to issue such a mandamus was limited under Article 226 of the Constitution, the bench said though it could not issue the direction to Parliament to amend the Representation of People’s Act, it was the obligation of the court to enforce the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens.

While asking the EC to initiate proceeding in the court against a candidate if he had submitted wrong information to it, the bench said this was necessary to check criminalisation of politics and purity of governance.

The court said non-compliance of the Commission’s edicts pursuant to the direction given by the court in its order, "will entail consequences according to law against the concerned authorities and the candidates."

Castigating Government for not tabling the Electoral Reforms Bill in Parliament, the court said the EC, in its report in August 1997, had stated that 40 MPs and 700 MLAs at that point of time were having criminal background.

Referring to the CBI and IB reports, the court said these agencies had stated that there had been a rapid growth of criminal gangs, armed senas, drug mafias and smugglers, who had developed a network of contacts with politicians, bureaucrats and Government functionaries at local levels.

The court also castigated the Government for not taking any action on the N N Vohra committee report which had given detail findings on criminal-politician nexus. (PTI)

CBI raids CGHS, registers cases against 4 CMOs

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: In a major operation to bust racket of sale of medicines at inflated prices to Central Government dispensaries, the CBI today carried out raids at several places and registered two cases against four senior officials of Health Department and two suppliers for causing loss to the Government exchequer.

A CBI spokesman said that the officials of the rank of Chief Medical Officers had allegedly entered into criminal conspiracy with two drug suppliers and passed highly inflated bills causing huge loss to the Government exchequer.

Later, the sleuths of Anti-Corruption Branch carried out searches at 14 places including residential and official premises of the officials and seized a large number of documents of assets accumulated allegedly through corrupt means, the spokesman said.

During the raid at the residence of Dr P C Prasad, Chief Medical Officer of CGHS, CBI found assets which included fixed deposits worth Rs 17.6 lakh, Rs 86,000 in cash, bank balance and shares worth Rs 16.88 lakh and immoveable property worth Rs 20 lakh, he said.

The other CMO’s premises were also raided during which CBI found huge assets allegedly accumulated through corrupt practices, the spokesman claimed.

During the raid at the residence of another CMO Dr (Mrs) Tamboli, CBI sleuths recovered Rs 2.02 lakh cash and jewellery worth Rs 3.56 lakh, the spokesman claimed.

In another search at the residence of CMO Dr Usha Chawla, the sleuths found cash and balance in the joint account of accused and her husband to the tune of Rs 9.6 lakh, fixed deposits worth Rs 6.5 lakh, other savings worth Rs 12.30 lakh, he said.

Details of the fourth official were not known as yet, the spokesman said.

The CBI also seized huge amount of cash during the raids at the premises of two medicine suppliers, the spokesman said, adding "the scrutiny of records seized during the course of searches of the accused is going on." (PTI)

RDX, ammunition recovered
3 militants infiltrate from RS Pura sector

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 2: A group of three more militants was reported to have infiltrated into Indian territory from the International Border of RS Pura sector last night. A small consignment of explosives and ammunition abandoned by the militants was recovered by security forces today while more arms were said to be in possession of the ultras.

The infiltration of militants came close on the heels of elimination of a Kashmiri militant and arrest of his associate by army from Gharana village of RS Pura tehsil on Sunday.

Official sources said local people, who were going to attend nature’s call in the early hours today, noticed three militants moving in the village. People hide themselves behind the bushes and as the militants passed away they informed the matter to security forces.

Security forces swung into action and started searches. Though the militants remained untraced, securitymen recovered a bag from the village which contained two kg RDX, 17 rounds and one magazine of AK-47 rifle, one buoynet and one Khan dress.

Sources said the bag might have been left by the militants, who fled after observing the movement of security forces in the area. According to a statement given by the people, who were witness to the movement of militants, the number of ultras was three and they were carrying arms and ammunition with them.

The people told security personnel that the militants looked like Kashmiris. Security forces continued searches to track down the militants but success remained elusive till the reports last came in.

Few days back, troops had intercepted two Kashmiri militants, hailing from Kupwara, when they were travelling in a bus towards Jammu after infiltrating from RS Pura sector. In the encounter that followed, one militant was killed while another was apprehended. A large quantity of arms and explosives including five kg RDX was recovered from the possession of militants.

Meanwhile, amidst infiltration, Pakistan army continued heavy firing all along the International Border from Kathua to Hiranagar throughout the last night. Pak firing was aimed at pushing trained militants into this side of the border but at most of the places their attempts were foiled by security forces, who retaliated effectively.

Reports of heavy Pak firing were received from Nanga, Ramgarh, Pindi, Pittal Post, Jabowal, Kot Kuba, Zero Point, Mehta Post, Chenaz, Sougral, Mangral, Khatmarian, Khar-Khoto, Gharana, Gharani, Joura Farm, Nawa Pindi and Abdullian.

Two tractors of civilians—Romesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar—were trapped in Pakistani firing at village Marh Kule in Pargwal island of Akhnoor tehsil. Pak troops weren’t allowing the tractors to be evacuated from the fields with continued firing.

Two civilians held for supporting militants

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Nov 2: Romeo Force have arrested two harbourers of the militants from village Hill Tak under the jurisdiction of Darhal police station. Arrested militant supporters were involved in rocket attacks on army at Darhal alongwith foreign mercenaries.

Defence sources said troops of Thanna Mandi Brigade of Romeo Force arrests the suspects from their houses in village Hill Tak yesterday as their names figured during interrogation of some arrested militants.

They have been identified as Rafiq Ahmed son of Noor Hussain and Mohd Baksh son of Nabi Baksh, both residents of Hill Tak. Troops subjected both of them to questioning during which they reportedly confessed that they had assisted the militants in carrying out rocket attacks on security forces and police posts in Darhal in September this year.

After questioning, the suspects were handed over by army to Darhal police station for sustained interrogation and extract clues about militants’ activities and their hideouts across Darhal.

Sources said they had reports that some civilians were assisting Pakistan-sponsored ultras in their rocket and mortar attacks on security locations and civil areas. Some more arrests were also expected in this connection.

Meanwhile, of two militants gunned down by Sikh troops of Thanna Mandi Brigade at village Sam Samad in Thanna Mandi yesterday, one has been identified as Choudhary Shakeel alias Hamza Ansari, a dreaded militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Choudhary Shakeel was tattooed on his right arm while Hamza Ansari was written on his rifle sling.

Identity of the second militant killed in the encounter hasn’t been established so far. Both the militants were involved in rocket attacks on Rajouri town few days back.

Clown’s comedy begets tragedy

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 2: It was at around 1600 hours this afternoon that the folk artists of National Band Theatre Wathora got their turn to present a 15-minute skit "Leji Sahab" at the crowded auditorium of Tagore Hall. The occasion was a charity show, organised by the Valley’s prominant NGO, Help Foundation.

The folk artists, locally known as ‘Baand’, had come all the way from their village Band Mohalla Batpora (Wathora). Their one-act performance was full of satire on the Valley’s sweeping fad for modernity and westernisation. Laughters cracked incessant, all through the comedy, as the ‘Baands’ of Wathora drew kinetic caricatures of westernised Kashmiris, forgetting everything of their culture and ethos. The artists also sang a parody on Rehman Dar’s famous "Sheshrang" and their victim was nothing other than the wasteful cuisine, "Waazwaan".

Suddenly, the master clown Ghulam Ali Majboor began narrating an episode. "The other day, I heard peepee..teetee.. and I did hide myself in a dark room of my house. I thought it was a raid by Army. When, there was nothing more disturbing, I emerged out and found that peepee and teetee were the (Anglisized) nick-names of two kids and not the blowing of any forces’ vehicles".

It was exactly at this moment that Army raided Majboor’s hamlet at Wathora, late this afternoon, and engaged itself in a fierce gun-battle with a thick group of militants. The clowns folded up their comedy only to be told -- on way back to their village -- that a huge tragedy had struck their families. They made everybody laugh at Tagore Hall but did not know that sighs and sobs were in store for them immediately. They are now well out of the area anxious about the fate of their own kids.

Finance, Revenue Secretaries assume charge

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: The new Finance Secretary Ajit Kumar, who will be in charge of economic affairs, and Revenue Secretary S Narayan assumed office here today.

A 1964 batch IAS officer, Ajit Kumar replaces Piyush Mankad, who has been posted as Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary. Narayan, who was Petroleum Secretary holds Revenue, held earlier by Mankad.

The former Economic Affairs Secretary E A S Sarma has put in his papers for premature retirement after he was shifted as Coal Secretary.

Soon after assuming office, the two new Secretaries met Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Minister of State for Banking, Insurance and Expenditure Balasaheb Vikhe Patil.

In a major bureaucratic reshuffle on Oct 31, Government changed Secretaries in 14 key economic portfolios including Finance, Revenue, Information Technology, IPP, Coal, Petroleum and Small Scale Industries.

Sarma, who had served hardly a year as Power Secretary, was appointed Expenditure Secretary and from there within a year was made Economic Affairs Secretary.

"Though I have decided to quit I have nothing against the Government," he said adding he did not see his shifting to Coal Ministry as a sort of demotion. "All Secretary level posts are equally important".

"I have been contemplating to seek premature retirement in the wake of frequent reshuffle of my portfolio lately and I decided to use the latest transfer as an opportunity to put in my papers," he said. (PTI)

Barnala to be sworn in on November 8

DEHRA DUN, Nov 2: Former Chief Minister of Punjab Surjit Singh Barnala would be sworn in as the first Governor of the newly formed state of Uttaranchal here on November eight.

The newly appointed Chief Justice of High Court of Uttaranchal, Justice A A Desai will administer the oath of office to Barnala.

Since no Government notification has been issued regarding the principal seat of the High Court in Uttaranchal, Justice Desai will continue to work from Allahabad where he is serving as a senior judge, official sources said. (PTI)

Winter session of Parliament from Nov 20

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: The month-long winter session of Parliament will commence on November 20 and conclude on December 22.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters that the Union Cabinet today approved summoning of the session on November 20 and subject to exigencies of Government business it would conclude on December 22.

The 33-day session would have 25 sittings including five devoted to private members business. (PTI)

Mir appointed PAF chief

ISLAMABAD, Nov 2: Pakistan’s military regime today named Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, who was among top officials taking part in 1971 Indo-Pak war, as the new chief of the air staff, an official statement here said.

Mir will take over command of Pakistan Air Force from Air Chief Marshal Parvaiz Medhi Qureshi on November 20.

In his "illustrious career", Mir, 53, had been honoured with Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Sitara-e-Basalat awards in recognition of his services.

His assignments abroad included a position to the United States as representative of the Pakistan Air Force with the US Air Force, the state-run APP news agency said. (PTI)

Sarma seeks voluntary retirement

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: E A S Sarma, who was shifted as secretary coal from the high profile economic affairs department, today put in his papers seeking voluntary retirement apparently miffed over the Government decision.

Sarma, who has about a year in service, met Cabinet Secretary T R Prasad and submitted his papers.

"I have put in my papers and I have requested for being relieved before November 15 or with immediate effect waiving the three months notice period. I am waiting for the Government’s response," he said adding there was no question of going back on his decision.

Though his decision to quit comes two days after Government transferred him as part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle, Sarma said he was unhappy about his being frequently shifted.

Sarma, who had served hardly a year as Power Secretary at the Centre, was appointed Expenditure Secretary and from there within a year he was shifted to economic affairs. The latest transfer to Coal Ministry came in less than a year.

"I have been contemplating to seek premature retirement in the wake of frequent reshuffle of my portfolio lately and I decided to use the latest transfer as an opportunity to put in my papers," he said.

Sarma joined the Government as an IPS officer in 1964 and got into the IAS the next year. (PTI)

10 killed in cross-firing

IMPHAL, Nov 2: At least ten civilians, including a woman, were killed and seven injured in a crossfire during an encounter between militants and Assam Rifles personnel on the Imphal airport road here today, official sources said. The encounter took place when militants hurled a bomb at Assam Rifles personnel around 3.30 pm in Malom area, 5 kms south of here, injuring three armymen.

The Army personnel retaliated and in the crossfire between the two sides ten civilians, waiting at a nearby bus stop, were killed, the sources said.

Security and police forces rushed to the spot and launched a massive combing operation to nab the attackers whose identity was not known, the sources said. (PTI)

Azhar had links with Tiger Memon

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: Mumbai Police Commissioner M N Singh tonight said former India cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin had close links with Tiger Memon, one of the prime suspects in the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai in 1993.

"During investigations into the 1993 bomb blasts, police, during a raid on Memon’s house in Mumbai, came across photographs of Azharuddin with Memon and his family members", Singh told Aaj Tak.

He said that at that point of time police had not felt the need for a follow-up on Azharuddin’s links with Memon as the purpose of the investigation was entirely different.

Azharuddin is among the five Indian cricketers named by CBI in its report on betting and match fixing. (PTI)

10 killed in shoot-out

IMPHAL, Nov 2: Ten people, including a woman, waiting at a bus stop were killed and seven injured in a shootout between Assam Rifles personnel and militants on airport road today, official sources said.

The encounter broke out seconds after the militants detonated a bomb bomb at Malom-Nambol area, five kms south of here, at around 3.30 PM, the sources said.

The Assam Rifles personnel were returning to Imphal when they were attacked.

The injured included three Assam Rifles personnel, the sources said adding a massive hunt was on to track down the militants.

Today’s incident was the second major strike by insurgents in Imphal in the past fortnight.

On October 20, activists of outlawed People’s Liberation Army attacked Jiribam police station in Imphal east district and looted arms, including sophisticated weapons, after overpowering police personnel.

Earlier this month, four PLA activists were killed in separate encounters with police in Imphal and sourrounding areas.

On June 25, nine civilians travelling by bus were shot dead by militants who mistook them for rivals at Leingangpokpi on Imphal-Jiribam national highway No 53. (PTI)

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