The Supercrat
Brajesh Mishra, Vajpayee's principal secretary, has emerged as a strong power centre. But his critics say he has bitten off more than he can chew and has become the target of a proxy war against the prime minister.

Going Beyond Square One
India and Pakistan make subtle shifts in their positions on Kashmir, raising hopes of a renewed dialogue and restoration of peace. Much will depend on what happens during Ramzan.

Fifth Column
by Tavleen Singh
Multinational Myths

Prime Movers

Action Manifested

Clean Bowled

Long Arm Of The Law

It took all of half an hour for India's most successful cricket captain to crack. At the CBI headquarters in Delhi, the investigators led by Superintendent of Police M.A. Ganapathy watched their triumph mixed with alarm.

Mohammed Azharuddin went from denial to distress in a few short moments. Recalls an investigator: "From denying everything to beginning to ask 'What will my father think? How will I face them back home? I am ashamed...', it took very little time for Azhar to tell us that he was guilty." The first brick in the wall that shut in Azhar was laid not by the CBI but by South African captain Hansie Cronje, who in Cape Town said that the Indian captain had introduced him to a man called Mukesh Gupta. The CBI took it from there. The interrogation of Gupta, the examination of phone and financial records and a closer look at the world of Azhar's dubious social contacts were stops on a trail that finished with the cricketer breaking down under questioning. The CBI presented him with facts that were difficult to explain: how was it that a bill for a cellular phone belonging to Azhar was paid through the credit card of Delhi-based Nishit Goel, alleged to be a punter? Azhar had no reply. The CBI then produced the statements by Mukesh Gupta, who talked of fixing matches with Azhar. The last straw was the statements to the CBI by Azhar's close friend, former Delhi captain Ajay Sharma.

Once all was said and done, Azhar could only mumble, "Mera kya hoga ... ghar pe log kya kahenge... (What will happen to me? What will people say at home?)." Even though Azhar then walked in to meet BCCI Commissioner K. Madhavan and denied all that happened in the CBI office, Madhavan reached the damning verdict: the former captain was guilty. Of liaising with bookies and punters, of accepting favours and indulging in conduct unbecoming of an Indian cricket captain.

-Sayantan Chakravarty

Excerpts from the Madhavan Report

"Despite the glory and confidence the country reposed in Azhar he behaved as he did in a game that raised him from a middle-class status to affleunce."

"The most humorous statement is of Azhar stating before me, 'I am staying in a rented house as... I do not have enough money now to buy a flat or house'."

"His misconduct is aggravated as he was the captain of the Indian team for long and let down the country and cricket-loving public in a despicable manner."

MetroScape
Celebrating India
Trikaya Grey of Delhi and Concept Communication of Mumbai, tied for the top at India Today's "My India My Pride" ad contest. So they were given an equitable deal of Rs 7.5 lakh each.
more...

Looking Glass

Mumbai: Restaurants

Bangalore: Concert

Delhi: Restaurant

Ayodhya is an issue that is pre-determined. And it matters little in the present fuss that the foremost casualty is the truth, writes INDIA TODAY Deputy Editor Swapan Dasgupta in
Day Dreams.

Orissa's Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia, is dying. But there is a concerted effort to restore its health. INDIA TODAY Special Correspondent Ruben Banerjee takes a look at the diagnosis and treatment in Despatches.