rediff.com: Jethmalani has no high hopes on match-fixing probe

Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani is impressed neither by the vigorous media coverage on the match-fixing scandal nor the intensive probe being carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation and prefers to forgive the players and forget the episode.

"Frankly, not much will come out of the match-fixing probe. They (the players) have surrendered to a temptation -- let us forgive and forget," was the unusually mellowed remark of the law minister, who as a lawyer and a parliamentarian has sought an intensive probe into several scams in the past.

But as far as the fallout of the scandal is concerned, Jethmalani agrees with the common man.

"It has taken away my interest, like that of millions, in the game of cricket. I was such a lover of cricket, I used to run away from work to watch a cricket match. Today, I do not know whether I am watching a fixed match or not," he said.

On whether laws would be enough to handle charges arising from the controversy, Jethmalani said, "When you fix a match and go to the people and tell them that the game was played honestly - you are making a false representation to the people.

"This is an offence of cheating punishable under Section 420 of Indian Penal Code," said the eminent lawyer-turned-politician.

Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa had said that the government would do everything to bring the guilty to book and if there was a requirement to change the law to handle the dark episode in cricket, the government would not be lacking.

Jethmalani said the laws were wide enough to cover almost all offences and there was no need to change them to get the players who fixed matches to book.

"You do not have to change any law. The laws are plenty to handle this kind of a controversy," he said and added, "what is match-fixing, except for surrender to a gambling tendency -- the desire to make quick money."

In a lighter vein he said, "Fortunately the controversy is not limited to India and Pakistan and has surfaced elsewhere in a worse form."

He said, "I heard that (Hansie) Cronje had deposed before the King Commission, saying money was like alcohol to him. I would rather prefer alcohol."

On whether he was satisfied with the way the CBI was handling this case as well as the much-hyped Bofors case, Jethmalani said with the result of autonomy being given to investigating agencies, he had absolutely no say in this matter.

"Today, I have no control. As a minister of law and justice I cannot ring up the CBI to ask them what is happening," Jethmalani said.


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