'Dawood back in betting game'

LOOK, WHO'S AT IT: Mumbai cops see possibilities of Dawood Ibrahim's return to cricket betting.

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Mumbai: For the most loyalists of cricket, the Nagpur controversy has marked the return of the fixers. But this time, the controversy has revealed links that go all the way to Dubai and the D-gang.

Two days after the sensational revelations emerged from Nagpur, pointing to alleged links between West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels and alleged bookie Mukesh Kochar, Mumbai police have hinted at the possibility of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's return to cricket betting.

In fact, initial investigations into the Samuels tapes controversy have pointed to Dawood Ibrahim links.

The Mumbai police have launched a probe into the possibility of the involvement of Kamal Kishore Chadha, alleged to be an aide of underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim, in the racket.

Police sources claim Dubai-based Kochar is known to be handling the betting accounts for Dawood's henchmen. And now a categorical reference to Chadda, another of Dawood man, drops enough hints about the possibile betting activities of the underworld.

"Mukesh Kochar of Gurgaon is pretty close to KK Chadha of Mumbai, and KK Chadha is reportedly very close to Dawood Ibrahim," Maharashtra DGP PS Pasricha claims.

On his part, Chadha has conceded that he knows both Kochar and Dawood very well, but denies introducing Kochar to Dawood. "I've never introduced Kochar to Dawood," he says.

Not only did Kochar, the alleged bookie, admit to having known Samuels, he even described Samuels "like a son" to him. At the same time, Kochar says he was just talking cricket and that he is game to returning to India if the government seeks his help.

The police aren't discounting that Samuels may have passed on information to Kochar about the team strategy on the January 21 one-dayer against India in Nagpur, though there is no clear evidence yet to prove the match-fixing charges.

But the most striking revelation so far has been the fact that the batting and bowling order was a free-to-air topic in the telephonic talks.

Bookie: What do you think, who will bat?

Room No 206: Well

(Room No 206 is where Marlon Samuels was staying.)

Bookie: Who, who?

Room No 206: Dwayne, he making a debut tomorrow

Bookie: New batsman or bowler

Room No 206: No he is an all-rounder

Bookie: He's good?

Room No 206: Eer... Yes, he's making his debut

The name of Dwayne comes up repeatedly in the teleconference as does another name, which caught the attention of the police. A certain Robin Singh features in the conversation leading to a number of possibilities.

Room No. 206: Are you talking to Robinson Bookie: Yes, I am...

Room No. 206: Audio is not clear, but ...aaah my fielding as well

Bookie: ... '?'

Such exchanges have led to speculations that Mukesh Kochar was definitely not just talking cricket. Police suspect he was possibly operating at various levels as part of match-fixing racket working for the D-man. He will now be the pivot of police investigation in the days to come.

Bookie: When do you get on to bowl?

Room No. 206: unclear

Bookie: Which over would you be bowling?

Room No 206:One down

Bookie: Bradshaw Taylor will open, will you be third?

Room No 206: Taylor will be fourth bowler