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Voice authentication not done, says police chief

Onkar Singh in Delhi

Delhi police Crime Branch chief P K Srivastava today admitted that the police did not authenticate the voice of Hansie Cronje before sealing the tapes on which the alleged conversation between the South African captain and an Indian bookmaker, agreeing to fix matches for monetary considerations, were recorded.

He disclosed that the voice authentication will be done only after direction from the court.

"The position at the moment is that after the tapes were transcribed they were sealed, and they would be opened only on the direction of the court. Yes, we did think of taking the help of some of the cricketers in getting the voice authentication done. The same may be done at a later stage," he said.

It is learnt that the Delhi police has asked Interpol to provide voice samples for Cronje.

Asked if the alleged bookie Sanjeev (alias Sanjay Chawla) was a police plant, Srivastava laughed and said the media is giving the police undue credit.

"I think you are giving us more credit than is due to us," he said. "We heard the conversation ourselves and took our time to decide the course of action."

Srivastava disclosed that the Delhi police deliberately allowed Sanjeev to go to London because then they had very little evidence against the South African captain.

"All that we had on tapes was that he was in the hotel lobby and Cronje asked him to come up. That could not have fixed him," he said.

The conversations between Cronje and Sanjeev were taped between March 15 and March 18 in Delhi and elsewhere, till the South Africans left Indian shores.

"We got information on March 13 that some Delhi businessmen were going to strike a deal with the South African captain to fix some matches in India. We also got the information that the cell phone belonging to Rajesh Kalra (the reason why he is behind bars now) had been handed over to Cronje, and the conversation would take place through the cell phone itself.

"We could have arrested Sanjeev in Delhi, but then, as I told you earlier, by then we had no evidence of match-fixing. It is only after he reached London that the real conversation also took place (transcripts of which have already been released to the press).

"Two days ago we filed a first information report and arrested Rajesh Kalra. The man is in our custody and he is being interrogated, and I will share the information with the media the moment we get anything out of him. He is likely to be produced in the courts tomorrow at 2 pm," the Crime Branch chief informed.

Srivastava denied talk that the government is considering transferring the matter to the CBI as the case has wide ramifications which could lead investigators to other countries. He also ruled out any pressure from the government to go slow on the case.

"First of all, let me clarify that there is no pressure on the Delhi police to go slow on the case. So far nobody has said anything.

"Secondly, why should the matter be sent to the CBI? Aren't we good enough to investigate the matter ourselves?" he asked.

Kalra is believed to have told the Delhi police that he is a postgraduate in psychology and he was scheduled to get married on March 16.

So hasn't the Crime Branch broken his marriage?

"No," said a grinning Srivastava. "The Crime Branch does not believe in breaking marriages. Marriages, you know, are made in heaven."

Srivastava did not rule out the possibility of more arrests.

"I have seen the reports appearing in a newspaper about the possibility of raids being conducted in some other parts of the country in connection with the match-fixing. But I will not tell what we plan to do. You can only ask me about whatever has taken place till now."

When his attention was drawn to the statement issued by the United Cricket Board of South Africa, which dismissed the charges as ''rubbish", Srivastava said: "We know that we are on the correct path, and we have solid evidence against him to prove that he is involved in match-fixing."

However, some officers within the Delhi police say the Crime Branch chief had nothing solid as proof and jumped the gun.

"I think the whole thing is a big drama. If what they say is correct then Srivastava and his team needs to be complimented. But if it is a stage-managed show then their goose is cooked," a senior ranking police officer said.

Another police officer, presently posted out of Delhi, was of the opinion that the matter needs to be dismissed with contempt.

The betting controversy
The 'Hansie' tapes
'We have got his voice as proof'
Cronje involved in match-fixing, allege Delhi police
Charges are rubbish, says Cronje
'The South African players aren't talking'
SA cricket administration in state of seige