The Delhi police has denied speculation that it is planning to close the match-fixing case against Hansie Cronje and others because of the lack of further headway.
The case, registered against the South African captain in April 2000 on the basis of tapped telephone transcripts, has had more than share of twists lately.
Cronje was killed in a plane crash last year. And, more recently, bookie Rajesh Kalra and film star Krishen Kumar, both of whom were arrested for their alleged role in the scam, have been granted bail by the Delhi high court.
With Sanjeev Chawla, the bookie who allegedly offered money to Cronje and some Indian players, still out of the reach of the Delhi police, the feeling has gained ground that the case is dying a quiet death.
Not so, say the Delhi police.
Speaking to rediff.com, crime branch additional commissioner Qamar Ahmed said they are still awaiting fresh inputs from their South African and UK counterparts.
"We sent letters to the South African and UK police asking for more information. We have received some response from Scotland Yard on Chawla. But we have not heard so far from the South Africans," he said.
Ahmed admitted that the case against Cronje would abate following his death. But he was emphatic that the investigation would continue against the others, especially Chawla.
"We are not closing the case. We will prosecute the others involved," he said.
Another senior Delhi police told rediff.com that there is still the possibility of a chargesheet being filed in the case although it has been three years since the controversy was uncorked and in spite of the recent reverses.
"The crime branch made the mistake of not filing a chargesheet against Kalra Kalra and Krishen Kumar. They should have done that first and filed a separate chargesheet against the others later," he said.
Another senior officer felt that the crime branch should now release the tapes of Cronje's conversation with the bookie.
"This is the only way they can save their face. Otherwise few will believe them," he said.
But crime branch officials continue to maintain that releasing the tapes would harm the ongoing investigations.