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INTERVIEW
R.K.
RAGHAVAN
"We
will pinpoint the major players"
 R.K.
Raghavan, director of the CBI, was poring over a thick file on match-fixing
at his New Delhi home when Principal Correspondent Sayantan Chakravarty
spoke to him.
Q. How important is Mukesh Gupta to your case and what is the nature
of his confession?
A.
He has provided us information on the entire match-fixing affair. From
players to officials... all those who are involved. And what goes on inside
and outside the cricket field. He was very eager to talk and volunteered
information.
Q. Are
we going to see the report before the end of this month?
A.
Not really. I would say, realistically, the report won't be ready till
the end of October.
Q. Are
you sure that you will eventually file an FIR?
A.
We can't say at this stage. But whether we go to court with the report
or not, I still want a tight report. The public must be satisfied. The
team led by my joint director R.N. Sawani has been working really hard
for that.
Q. Will
you be cagey about names?
A.
We will name people in our report, including cricketers from abroad, perhaps
even officials and some bookies. But we will also ensure that reputations
built over years are not destroyed by one sweep of the pen.
Q. Should
we expect a report saying quite a few cricketers have not been above board?
A.
Yes. We are confident of pinpointing the major players.
Q. How
many?
Unfortunately,
at this stage I cannot say how many.
Q. You
thought it fit to send a CBI team to London to question Ajay Sharma rather
than wait for his return to Delhi. Why?
A.
We thought it was important.
Q. Considering
that Sharma has been close to Azharuddin and Mukesh Gupta, that does say
something.
A.
Yes.
Q. Please
elaborate.
A.
He has figured prominently in our investigations. He cooperated with the
investigators and gave us details.
Q. How
about the depositions of other cricketers?
A.
Most of the other cricketers and officials cooperated with us. They may
not have said all that they know but they were responsive and responsible.
Q. The
board "rested" Azharuddin, Nikhil Chopra and Ajay Jadeja. Is
it because they are going to be named in your report?
A.
I cannot tell you that. But the board must have based its actions on some
information.
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