The international match-fixing scandal of 2000, in which South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje was involved, is back in the spotlight as spot fixing has made its ugly presence felt in IPl.
Over 13 years have passed, but the Delhi Police is yet to file charge sheet. On April 7, 2000, the Delhi Police unearthed a match fixing scandal following tapping of conversation between Cronje and a bookie, Sanjeev Chawla, who has an extensive network in India and the UK.
The police reason that they have not filed a charge sheet since there has been no response from South African cricket authorities. A senior Delhi Police officer involved in the investigation told The Pioneer that a few questions were sent to South Africa around five years ago, but no response was received. However, he remained silent on questions of a follow-up.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has not yet completed investigation and is yet to arrest Chawla, the key accused, who is hiding in london.
Sources close to the investigation said the South African cricket board was requested to provide details of Cronje’s cellphone and bank account but no response has come. Cronje’s death in a place crash in 2002 has also slowed down investigation.
The Central Forensic Science laboratory (CFSl) has confirmed in its voice sample report that the voices in the conversation match. The report will now be used to file charge sheet.
Police sources said Chawla is still operating his racket from london, though he is wanted. “He was the kingpin for fixing matches of Pepsi Cup in March 2000. Delhi Police had already arrested another Delhi-based bookie and conduit Rajesh Kalra, Kishan Kumar and one Sunil Dara, alias Bittu, in 2000. The taped conversation had voices of Kalra, Dara and Kishan too,” a source added.
The Delhi Police has also not yet been able to question South African cricketers involved in the case. In 2006, Herschelle Gibbs, who had been avoiding investigators since the scandal broke in 2000, was grilled. “He told investigators that he received two offers to under-perform but claimed he never accepted. later, investigators tried to check Gibbs’ bank account but the South African authorities did not help much,” the officer added.