Justice Mudgal probe panel turns to Sri Lankan CID
Indian bachelor batsman's role being in woman's company in 2010 Asia Cup investigated
Mumbai: The Supreme Court-appointed Justice Mukul Mudgal panel, probing matters related to the IPL fixings, has sought help from Sri Lanka's CID, it is learnt here.
According to the Colombo-based sources, the panel wants to ascertain the role of one of the Indian batsmen (though the name known to us, it is withheld to avoid legal hassles) is in the confidential list submitted by the panel to the Supreme Court.
The said bachelor player was said to be in company of a woman during India's participation in Asia Cup in 2010. The woman spent a night or two with the player on 18th and / 19th in Dambulla's hotel where the Indian team was staying.
The matter was reported by Sri Lanka's security consultant, Lawrence Fernando then but no action was initiated by its board and the same was referred to the Indian cricket board without involving ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).
The Mudgal panel has now initiated the fresh enquirers into this and consulted Fernando. When approached in Colombo, Fernando sais, "I have directed them (Mudgal panel) to route their request through Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry. I can't discuss the issue with media."
One of the panel members, B.B.Mishra, may visit Sri Lanka later this month to investigate the probe.
N. Srinivasan, who was a BCCI secretary then, had refuted the charges. Interestingly, Srinivasan, who has side-stepped as BCCI chief is holding ICC's chairman post.
If needed, the probe panel may seek Ranjib Biswal’s (manager on that tour) and Shashank Manohar's views. Manohar was a BCCI president when this incident took place and is said to be a very strict disciplinarian and is of the opinion that all IPL matches be investigated.