Prabhakar sets terms for lie detector test

Stung by a series of denials about the contents of the sensational tapes submitted by him on match-fixing, former cricket allrounder Manoj Prabhakar says he is willing to undergo a lie detector test provided the Central Bureau of Investigation puts those who have denied the allegations through the same test.

"I have no problem in undergoing a lie detector test, but it would only be fair if others involved in the CBI cricket inquiry are also called for the same test," Prabhakar said in his reply to the agency's suggestion to undergo the test.

He said this is necessary so that all are treated equally and the veracity and correctness of different versions can be cross-verified and checked.

Sources in the investigating agency, however, said that such a test can only be conducted on Prabhakar as all the others named by him as witnesses to Kapil Dev's offer of Rs 2.5 million to him to under perform in a one-dayer against Pakistan in 1994, had not corroborated his charge.

In an attempt to prove the authenticity of his clandestinely shot video-taped conversations with several cricketers and administrators, Prabhakar also urged the agency to gather voice samples of those who have denied the statements made during the course of the conversation with him.

When contacted, Prabhakar's lawyer Nidesh Gupta said, "Yes, we have replied to the agency's request for a lie detector test and also put forward some suggestions before he agrees to undertake such a test."

The CBI has asked Prabhakar to undergo the test even as it is all set to submit its interim report on the match-fixing inquiry to the Union Sports Ministry.

Prabhakar was examined by the CBI thrice after cricketers and BCCI officials denied making statements which feature on the video tapes. Among them are Nayan Mongia, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Prashant Vaidya, former team manager Ajit Wadekar and physio Ali Irani.

Kapil Dev also dismissed Prabhakar's claim.

The CBI has so far recorded statements of 16 cricket-related persons including Kapil Dev, BCCI president A C Muthiah, secretary Jaywant Lele, treasurer Kishore Rungta, Delhi Cricket Association secretary Sunil Dev, former BCCI president I S Bindra, Ajit Wadekar, cricketers Manoj Prabhakar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Navjot Sidhu, Nayan Mongia, Ajay Jadeja, Prashant Vaidya and Nikhil Chopra besides some alleged bookies including Mukesh Gupta.

The agency officials also met batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar in Bombay and asked him certain questions about alleged match-fixing in cricket.

Mail Cricket Editor