Pune, Nov 22: Tainted batsman Abhijit Kale, at the centre of a bribery scandal, today appeared before the Maharashtra Cricket Association's three-member inquiry committee and claimed "total innocence" in the matter. After a two-hour hearing before the inquiry committee, kale told reporters that he was "totally innocent" and denied offering any money to national selectors.
"I have nothing to do with these allegations. I will seek legal opinion over the matter," kale said after deposing before the committee.
Asked whether he was made a sacrificial goat by the cricket board, Kale said "I am going to seek legal opinion so I can't say anything without consulting my lawyer."
The MCA appointed the committee after written reports about kale offering Rs 10 each to them were submitted by the two selectors, Pranab Roy (east zone) and Kiran More (west zone), to the BCCI president.
The BCCI had yesterday suspended Kale, a prolific scorer in the domestic circuit, and had also appointed D V Subba Rao as the commissioner of inquiry into the bribery scandal.
The commissioner has been asked to submit his report to the board's disciplinary committee within 15 days.
Bureau Report