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The Rediff Interview/ Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa

'If match-fixing had not taken place, nobody would have known me outside Punjab'

Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa can breathe easy again.

Having ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into cricket's hour of shame, a big load is off his head: he need not face newsmen everyday, all the day, as he had to before he announced the probe.

Dhindsa says the match-fixing scandal is godsent to him. "Before it came up very few people had heard of my name outside Punjab. Now I am known as the minister for sports rather than for poverty alleviation," he told Onkar Singh in an exclusive interview:

The CBI probe seems to be very weak as no FIR has been registered in this case. The CBI also says it is only making a preliminary inquiry.

I admit the probe referred to the CBI is slightly weak because they do not have an FIR to investigate the matter like the Delhi police. We have provided all the information we had to the CBI. Now the agency would first inquire into the allegations of match-fixing and talk to all those who claim to know something about it. Once this is done they would register the case the moment a prima facie is established and carry on with the investigations.

Was there pressure on the government not to order a CBI probe because the son-in-law of a certain minister is a bookie in England?

This is something interesting. I am hearing it for the first time. Let me state categorically that there was no pressure on the government to withhold the CBI inquiry. We wanted to announce the probe in Parliament and that is why it took time.

Manoj Prabhakar has said that he has not been given security as promised by the government, and that it has not told the BCCI to release his benevolent fund. Also, did he tell you the name of the Indian player who offered him money to throw a match?

Manoj Prabhakar met me on the day when I announced a CBI probe into the scandal in Parliament. But he did not tell me any name.

As far as his security is concerned, the sports ministry has already written a letter to Home Minister L K Advani. The home minister has directed the Delhi commissioner of police to sort out the matter.

Coming to his benevolent fund, let me clarify that we can only write to the BCCI. I cannot direct the BCCI to release his money as I do not know the problem between him and BCCI.

What kind of security would you provide him?

That has to be decided by the Delhi police security branch. They would assess his requirements and then accordingly decide what kind of cover he needs.

What did Sachin and Gavaskar say about match-fixing in the meeting?

Neither of them touched upon the match-fixing case in their short speeches. All they said was they are interested in the development of sports in India. Sachin in particular emphasised on the kind cricket that should be played in domestic cricket.

Why do you take so much interest in this case?

I used to be a sportsman during my college days. But since 1978 I am the president of the Punjab Olympic Association. Besides, I am also the president of the Indian Cycling Federation. In these capacities I am associated with the Indian Olympic Association. That is why I showed so much of interest in the match-fixing case.

But for the match-fixing scandal very few knew who is Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

Of course, this is true. If the match-fixing scandal had not taken place, nobody would have known my name outside Punjab. I am thankful to God for this opportunity. Chance came my way and I decided to handle it to the best of my ability.

Judges, lawyers, journalists, politicians all admit that match fixing takes place. What does Dhindsa say to this?

What can Dhindsa say now? The CBI is now looking into the case. It would be unfair if I who has referred the matter to CBI says anything on this issue. It would be like prejudging the issue. I am hopeful that something would definitely come out of it.

Some say the CBI probe is an eyewash?

People say all sorts of things. Let us wait for the CBI to at least begin its investigations.

Some have called for fixing a deadline for the inquiry.

This is not possible because the CBI cannot be tied down with a timeframe. They would take their own time in investigating the matter.

On one hand the BCCI says that it will give all assistance to CBI in arriving at the truth. But it also says it will defend the players. So what is the use of the BCCI assisting the probe?

How can I answer this question? Only the Board for Control of Cricket in India can tell what it wants to do. Naturally they would like to come clean. They are also under pressure. I hope the BCCI gives full assistance in clearing up this mess once and for all.

The Rediff Interviews

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