Nanavati completes probe into slapgate controversy

Sat, May 10 12:50 AM

THE MUCH-AWAITED hearing of the BCCI's inquiry into the slapgate controversy ended here on Friday with both Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth "cooperating" with commissioner, Sudhir Nanavati, a senior lawyer and vice-president of the Gujarat Cricket Association. While Harbhajan flew into the city in the morning from New Delhi, Sreesanth arrived in the afternoon from Chennai.

The two players did not talk to reporters outside the Gujarat Law Society building where they appeared before Nanavati. Harbhajan met Nanavati for about one-and-half hours from around 2.30 pm and was followed by Sreesanth, who arrived at the venue around 3.45 pm, and met the commissioner for about half-an-hour following which the commissioner had a joint meeting with the two for five minutes.

Nanavati told reporters that the hearing had been completed and both players cooperated. Asked whether Harbhajan had apologised for his action, Nanavati said there was no need for him to do so.

"I spoke to Harbhajan and Sreesanth and they were quite friendly during the hearing." Answering a query, Nanavati said there he did not need to record statements of anyone else and added the proceedings were video recorded for future reference.

Though the commissioner refused to be drawn into a comment on his conclusion, it was understood that he would submit his findings to the BCCI in writing by Monday. BCCI secretary, Niranjan Shah, said Nanavati would submit his report to president Sharad Pawar who will refer it to the disciplinary committee for action.

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