Response to allegations made against Ajay Jadeja in the CBI Report on match-fixing and related malpractices in cricket.

The CBI has in Its Report based a large section beginning on that page 17 of the report, on the evidence given the so-called Uttam Chand. I would like to state at the outset that, as I told the CBI when shown the cell phone number mentioned on page 50 of the report, that I only knew the person who called me from this number as Ramesh Gupta and this is how I will refer to him in this statement.

Let me first look at Ramesh Gupta's alias Uttam Chand's statement on the page 49-51 of the report.

"he denied knowing any other cricket player, present or past in the Indian team. However, on being shown the printouts of his cell-phone number 98-480-037700 which showed a large number of calls to and from Ajay Jadeja's cell phone 9810034882 just before or during cricket matches, he stated that he met Ajay Jadeja at a function at Chola Sheraton in Madras around 2-3 years ago.

During that function he approached Ajay Jadeja and introduced himself and obtained his cell phone number. He had been regularly ringing him up during the cricket matches to get information about the pitch, weather, team composition, probable result, etc. which Jadeja used to provide him.

He paid a sum of around Rs. 1 lakh to Jadeja, initially after introduction. Subsequently he paid a sum of around 5 lakhs to him when Jadeja was in Bombay recently during some match. This money was transferred through the Hawala channel through one Mool Chand who is in the hawala racket in Chennai.

Mool Chand had passed on this amount through some contact of his at Bombay. Uttam Chand had passed on a code to Ajay Jadeja through which he could receive the cash from Mool Chand's agent in Bombay. He stated that he had not fixed any matches through Jadeja and paid him only for the information he used to provide."

Also at pages 117 to 120, The CBI has a detailed analysis of what they claim are a random sample of cell phone calls" to and from me and Ramesh Gupta alias Uttam Chand. The report further states that "many of these calls made by Uttam Chand to Jadeja are of short duration and these are probably messages left in the voice mail."

I respond initially tot he statements made by Ramesh Gupta alias Uttam Chand, and the analysis of the same by the CBI and then examine "random samples of cell phone calls " in detail.

I categorically deny that I have ever met Ramesh Gupta alias Uttam Chand as he claims I did I did in the Chola Sheraton. I knew him only as a fan and a well wisher, who used to call me, as I have also stated to the CBI.

I categorically deny that I have ever provided him with any information about any aspects of the cricket matches I have played which could be construed as match-fixing or the unwarranted or unethical passing on of information.

I categorically deny that I have ever been paid sums of money by Ramesh Gupta alias Uttam Chand directly or indirectly.

I categorically deny that I have ever received any money paid to me through hawala channels in Mumbai. No money has been paid to me through a Moolchand as alleged on page 51. I do not know any Moolchand.

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