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Kapil was cooperative, provided new info: Madhavan
Jan 10, 2001, 20:50 Hrs (IST)

New Delhi: Former India captain Kapil Dev provided some new information and facts to BCCI's anti-corruption commissioner K Madhavan here on Wednesday.

Briefing newspersons here on Wednesday night Mr Madhavan said Kapil was questioned for over three-and-a-half hours at an undisclosed place during which he provided ''some new facts, additions and made minor deletions from his deposition to the CBI" in the match-fixing scandal.

He said Kapil's deposition before him was not much different than what he had told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) but he did offer some new insight. Madhavan said it was at the request of Kapil Dev that the meeting was held at a secret place. ''Kapil did not want media exposure and I had to respect his sentiments.''

He said every aspect of the CBI report without exception were discussed and ''I must say that Kapil was very cooperative.''

Asked if Manoj Prabhakar's allegation against Kapil Dev in the 1994 Singer Cup tournament and Ahmedabad Test match declaration against New Zealand were also discussed, Madhavan said ''Yes, I have told you every aspect of the CBI inquiry and my own investigation and media reports were discussed.''

''Not once Kapil tried to evade any question,'' Madhvan said adding that Kapil's statement runs into 15 pages. To a query whether he was satisfied with his meetings with Ajit Wadekar and Kapil Dev, Madhavan said ''yes, both were very cooperative''.

He said the questioning of these two former Indian captains and coaches has given me some new insights into the whole issue.

The BCCI anti-corruption commissioner said Kapil was very communicative and forthcoming, ''I think he left as a satisfied man.''

''In next four or five days, we will make our own assessment of these two meetings-with Wadekar and Kapil Dev-and then decide if further inquiry is needed,'' Madhavan said. Asked if Kapil Dev was giving correct answer to his question, he said, ''I have to presume that he was answering to the best of his ability. In any case, I am satisfied with today's proceedings.''

He said he has yet to decide about Navjot Singh Sidhu, ''I will make up my mind whether to call him or not after some time. Till today I was counting the leaves. In next three or four days, We will start counting the trees.''

Asked if all this secrecy was justified, Madahvan said, "Yes, it was justified as it was Kapil who wanted it that way.''

To a pointed question whether he was thinking of calling bookie Mukesh Gupta, Madhavan candidly admitted that he has no legal power to call Mukesh Gupta. ''If he wants to come and meet me I will certainly listen to him.''

Madhavan said, ''I have in my mind one or two other persons, I will ask them to meet me but I can't force them, if they don't want to meet me.'' He, however, did not disclose the name of those people.

He said his investigation is not restricted only to the CBI report and ''I am going beyond CBI report. I have been given brief by the BCCI to look into match-fixing, betting, misbehaviour of the players on the field and I am looking into all these aspects with open and unbiased mind. I do not rejudge the issue.''

UNI