Kapil serves notice on Bindra

Kapil serves notice on Bindra
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, MAY 5: Indian team coach Kapil Dev has served a legal notice on Inderjit Singh Bindra for his claim in a TV interview that all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar was offered a bribe by him (Kapil Dev) for under-performing in a match as part of match-fixing.

In a signed statement here today, Kapil Dev said: ``I have handed over this matter to my lawyers .... the action to be taken and the time-frame within which it could be taken will be decided by them. For the present, a legal notice has been sent to Mr Bindra by my lawyers and the ball is in his court.''

The former India captain said the statement made by Bindra has been ``an earth-shattering experience'' for him.

He said for the last 25 years ``cricket has been my life and I have given my everything to it. The reputation built over 25 years has been tarnished by one irresponsible statement''.

``I am going through an emotional hell. I haven't even thought of the financial consequences to my reputation. All that I can say is that the loss to me both emotionally and financially would be incalculable.''

Later asked whether he had sought an apology and retraction of the statement from Bindra failing which he might claim damages, Kapil Dev told PTI details of the notice served on Bindra would be made public in a day or two.

In London, Bindra told PTI: ``I would not like to comment till I have gone through the notice.''