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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Kundra quizzed; Dhoni remains mum


NEW DELHI/CARDIFF: Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra and his business partner-friend Umesh Goenka were questioned for several hours on Wednesday in connection with the IPL spot-fixing scandal following the claims made by a cricketer and to know about the ownership pattern of the team.

A senior Delhi Police official refused to clear the air on Kundra, who said he owns 11.7 per cent stake in Rajasthan Royals, whether he is a "suspect or complainant", stating he was an "important person" needed for questioning.


The questioning of both Kundra and Goenka began around 10 am and continued till late in the evening.


Sources said the name of Goenka, with whom Kundra owns a company dealing in steel business, came during the recording of statement of Rajasthan Royal player Sidharth Trivedi, a prosecution witness in the case.


In his statement recorded before a magistrate, sources said, Trivedi claimed that Goenka approached him and sought details about the cricket pitch in Ahmedabad and details about team formations.


According to police sources, Kundra was called over phone to appear before investigators who wanted to ask about the ownership details of Rajasthan Royals.


"Kundra told police that he owned 11.7 per cent while Suresh Chelaram, co-brother of Lalit Modi owned 43 per cent and Manoj Badale has 34 per cent. Rupert Murdoch's son Lalchan Murdoch also has stake in the team," a senior police official said.


Kundra, a British national, has 42 per cent stake in the steel business with Goenka who has 16 per cent shares in the firm, they said.


Dhoni continues to keep mum


Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued to maintain a stoic silence on the IPL spot-fixing scandal and also showed no willingness to give his version in the "conflict of interest" controversy over him having stakes in a sports management company which handles him. Asked if there are any distraction going into the Champions Trophy in the wake of recent controversies surrounding Indian cricket and the captain himself, Dhoni smartly dodged the query.


"I think these are all the stuff that we're not even thinking about or does not even cross our minds. What we are really looking forward to is the challenge," Dhoni said. "This is the first time we'll be playing under the new set of rules outside India, and we need to adapt quickly and see how our boys are reacting ... So that's what we are looking forward to," he added.


Dhoni has come under sharp attack from some former cricketers for his alleged conflict of interest for having stakes in Rhiti Sports, which handles him and three of his Indian teammates. Dhoni found himself in a controversy when it came to light that he had 15 per cent stake in Rhiti Sports, which also manages Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Pragyan Ojha, besides the Indian captain.


Prior to the Indian team's departure for England, Dhoni was asked questions about the spot-fixing scandal, but he answered none of them in a press conference in Mumbai. On arrival also, Dhoni kept mum saying "if I have not answered Indian journalists, there is no reason why I should answer you".


He said he will answer such questions when the time was right. Reminded about his statement that Champions Trophy is one tournament that he would like to win, he said, "None of the trophy goes to my cabinet. What you need to realize is it's for Team India."






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Shweta Pandey

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