Delhi police denies holding back 'Hansie' tapes

Onkar Singh  

The Delhi police on Tuesday denied that it has deliberately withheld the audio tapes relating to the match-fixing controversy from King Commission special public prosecutor Shamila Bathoi, who had recently visited India.

During her visit Bathoi tried to persuade the Delhi police to give her a copy of the tapes, which contain alleged conversations of former cricket captain of South Africa Hansie Cronje and alleged Indian bookie Sanjeev Chawla. However, she did not succeed in her mission and had to remain content with the authorised transcripts of the conversations.

Talking to rediff.com Dr K K Paul, joint commissioner incharge of the crime branch, said they had told Ms Bathoi at the beginning of their talks that the tapes are in the custody of the court and the same can be obtained by her through the court only.

"I don't know why the media is making this an issue. If she is planning to move the court to get the tapes, it is okay with us. Only those who do not know law think that she is threatening to move the court. She is an advocate and she knows the procedure. If the court agrees to release the tapes, we have no problems," Paul said.

He said the Delhi police has been making requests for Cronje's voice samples through proper legal channels since April but still the South African government hasn't obliged.

"We have asked for the voice samples of Hansie Cronje and Cassim (Hamid) but the same have not been provided by the South African police till date. We are waiting for their reply," he said with a broad smile.

Paul's response clearly indicates that the Delhi police will not provide the tapes to the South Africans till they get the voice samples of Hansie Cronje and Cassim.

The proceedings of the King Commission are likely to be resumed in the first week of November.

Mail Cricket Editor