Is 'MK' gone into hiding ?

By Pranab Dhal Samanta

NEW DELHI, JUNE 16. The CBI today identified `MK' or Mukesh Gupta, the bookie named by Hansie Cronje in his confession, as a South Delhi jeweller who has a shop in the Capital's posh marketplace in South Extension.

It is learnt that Mukesh, who owns a jewellery shop called AMS Jewellers at South Extension-I, was apparently out of the city at the moment. Unable to trace him there, the CBI sleuths then went to his house where also he could not be found.

The CBI spokesperson, confirming that he was indeed the bookie Cronje had named in his confession before the King Commission inquiring into the betting charges against certain South African cricketers on Thursday, said Mukesh had probably gone into hiding.

The deposed South African Captain had said one Mukesh Gupta (MK) was introduced to him by former Indian Captain Mohammed Azharuddin during the South African tour of India at Kanpur in 1996. Cronje had said he received $30,000 from Mukesh to lose the Kanpur Test and subsequently remained in touch with him.

This morning, the CBI investigators zeroed in on 42-year-old jeweller Mukesh Gupta in South Extension. At about 3 p.m., the sleuths visited his shop and on not finding Mukesh there, they went to his residence at C-538 Defence Colony.

According to Mukesh's father, Mr. Krishan Mohan Lal Gupta, the CBI sleuths came to his house around 4 p.m. and asked for Mukesh. ``When I told them that Mukesh was not there they told me not to hide him and hand him over to them. The strange part is they did not even show their identity cards to me on demand.''

Denying his son's involvement in the match-fixing case, Mr. Gupta said his son was a carrom player and his interest in cricket was just like any other normal person. Mukesh is married and has two children. His father said Mukesh had studied in Delhi College at Ajmeri Gate and then took over the family business after completing his studies.

On being contacted in the night, Mr. Gupta alleged that the CBI had picked up his son, Mukesh along with his wife, Sangeeta and their two children, Ashim (8) and Khyati (6), as they had not returned from Chandini Chowk in the Walled city where they had gone for marketing at about 2 p.m. ``I suspect the CBI sleuths have picked them up and were harassing them. I am now in the process of filing a complaint with the police.''

Mr. Gupta said the CBI sleuths, who came to his house during the day had not left their names, addresses or phone numbers. ``I don't know where my children are. All I know is that first two persons came from the CBI and later four persons also came; and after that my children are missing. Now who else but CBI can I suspect? ''

While the CBI denied this and said Mukesh along with his family had probably gone into hiding, Mr. K.L. Gupta maintained till late in the night that his son and his family were still missing.

The Delhi police, meanwhile, has said neither Azharuddin nor Mukesh were in anyway related to their case against Cronje. An investigating officer of the Crime Branch said: ``We have to prove the charges against Cronje and others. Thus these statements of Cronje only substantiate his involvement which only strengthens our case.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : UK help in Indian hostages release in Sierra Leone
Next     : Why should I quit: Azhar