Mahendra Singh Dhoni questioned for 4 hours by Mudgal committee in Delhi

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was questioned for nearly four hours by the Justice Mukul Mudgal committee investigator BB Mishra (deputy director, National Narcotics Bureau ) in the presence of some Delhi police officials, a day before the recent India-West Indies One Day International match here.

dna has learnt that Dhoni and Suresh Raina, both members of the Srinivasan-owned Chennai Super Kings (CSK), were quizzed after Team India landed in Delhi prior to the October 11 ODI. Two other members of the team who were summoned did not turn up for interrogation, citing personal reasons.

Dhoni's questioning went on for nearly four hours while Raina had to spent about three hours with the investigating officials. "The report has been finalised and should be submitted before the Supreme Court on November 2," the source added.

Besides Justice Mudgal, the panel has additional solicitor general L Nageshwar Rao and advocate Nilay Dutta as members. Senior IPS officer Mishra is assisting the panel and has been given search-and-seizure powers as well.

"The voice sample of Gurunath Meiyappan has been confirmed by a forensic laboratory in a taped conversation between him and Vindoo Dara Singh," a highly placed source told dna. "The Mumbai- based laboratory had given its confirmation report to the probe committee in May this year," the source also said.

dna has already reported that a commentator's name is part of the 13 names inside the sealed envelope submitted to the apex court. dna had reported in its September 1 edition that there is enough evidence against Meiyappan and team CSK is heading for turbulent times as the report is being finalised.

"Covering up corruption also amounts to corruption. Every single player, including skipper Dhoni of CSK knew that Meiyappan was acting on behalf of the team owner N Srinivasan. He was part of the team meetings and was in the know of every single detail related to the CSK. So, why did Dhoni not acknowledge this fact during his earlier deposition before the panel is one big question for which a thorough clarification was needed," said the source.

According to the IPL constitution, a franchise stands to be terminated if its owner is found to have indulged in betting or match-fixing. The future of two-time IPL champion CSK could well be sealed with the submission of this report.

It is worth mentioning here that Meiyappan did admit in his 2011 interview with a leading national daily that "before every game, Dhoni, Fleming and I exchange our elevens at 5.45 pm (for the night matches)." And this: "Fleming and I spent countless hours in the lead-up to the auction. In the last three days, we conducted mock auctions, picked around 45 different combinations."

The court, which was hearing a plea filed by Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), had asked Justice Mudgal, a retired Chief Justice of Punjab and Haraya high Court, to probe into the IPL spot fixing allegations. (With inputs from Prabhati Mishra)