ED points out London link in match-fixing

ED points out London link in match-fixing
SWATI CHATURVEDI

NEW DELHI, APRIL 20: In its first report to the Finance Ministry on the match-fixing scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has pointed to a ``London connection'' of the bookies as the pipeline for hawala transactions.

The report, sent to the Finance Ministry yesterday, states that after a worldwide trawl, investigations have narrowed down to London and a bank in the Guernsey Islands. The report also claims that so far no ``Dubai connection'' has been found.

The ED sent the report after the match-fixing matter was raised in Parliament. Based on the ED brief, the Finance Ministry has prepared a paper for Parliament with the chronological sequence of events and investigations after the scandal broke. Only this portion of the report is likely to be made public.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Enforcement Director S Dawra scotched speculation of differences with Delhi Police. He said: ``They are investigating the main case, we are only supporting actors. I have never sent any letter to the Delhi Police asking them for anything.''

Dawra also said that any early hopes of a breakthrough in the case were premature. We still have a long way to go in the investigations and in any case we are not looking at match-fixing but only the hawala transactions'' he said, adding that the ED had not investigated any hawala transactions of any Indian cricketer to date.

The ED will get possession of the tape transcripts today from the Delhi Police after a magistrate's ruling.

ED sources say that Kalra's admissions made during questioning to the ED are admissible in court while those made to the police are not. So his present questioning is vital even if it is going over the same grounds as covered by Delhi Police earlier.

In its report to the ministry, the ED has also clarified that so far it has not arrested any Delhi-based bookie based on the evidence provided by Rajesh Kalra. The report mentions that Kalra has been questioned ``within sight and sound'' of his lawyer and while he has provided the ED with some leads there has not been a vital breakthrough yet in the case.