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Mukesh Gupta holidaying, not absconding: Counsel

Alleged Indian bookmaker Mukesh Kumar Gupta, named by disgraced former South Africa skipper Hansie Cronje, is presently holidaying with his family, his counsel Vineet Malhotra said in Delhi today.

Gupta's father K L Gupta, who owns a jewellery shop, had earlier claimed that his son is "missing" and expressed apprehension that he may have been picked up by an investigating agency in the wake of Cronje's charge that Gupta had bribed him during a cricket Test in 1996 in Kanpur.

However, Malhotra said Gupta's father has now told the CBI that he would send his son immediately to the agency on his return.

"We are trying to get in touch with him and if the agency feels we will call him," Malhotra said, but refused to disclose where Gupta was at present.

Malhotra said Gupta was scheduled to return in a day or two and will present himself before the investigating agency.

Cronje had alleged that Mukesh Gupta, also known as "MK", was introduced to him by former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin. He told the King Commission on Friday last that Gupta gave him money during the 1996 Kanpur cricket Test against India.

A CBI team had raided Gupta's shop and house in a posh locality in south Delhi but was not able to trace him. The team told his father to present his son for questioning before the agency after he returned.

However, as there was no news about Gupta's whereabouts for six days, the family alleged "foul play" by the investigating agency.

Meanwhile, Income Tax authorities said they would send a notice to Gupta and ascertain how he acquired his wealth.