Hyderabad, June 17: Former cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin today pleaded before the city civil court that written statements filed by K Madhavan, cricket board's investigating officer in match-fixing scandal, and former board chief A C Muthiah, be ignored. Azhar's counsel P Jagdish claimed that the court had issued notices to Madhavan and Muthiah giving them an opportunity to bring on record their defence.
They knew, for sure, that they did not have any useful defence, which would upset the claim of Azharuddin and hence they did not participate in the trial, he said. Jagdish further pleaded that the absence or refusal of Madhavan and Muthiah was a calculated attempt and it was not on account of the reason that they were busy otherwise.
Azhar has been deliberately deprived of an opportunity to cross-examine Madhavan and Muthaiah, the counsel said. Madhavan, former CBI director, knew that his appointment by BCCI was illegal and Muthiah did not have the power to appoint him as an inquiry officer, Jagdish said.
The counsel said he (Madhavan) was aware of the fact his appointment would be challenged before the court and he will have to answer a volley of questions in respect of his appointment. Bureau Report