The income-tax returns of Azharuddin's wife Sangeeta Bijlani are being looked into. Officials say her returns for 1997-98 was Rs 19 lakh and for 1998-99, Rs 17 lakh, which she claimed were gifts from abroad. She is yet to respond to a summons.
Azhar's connection with top Mumbai bookie Shobhan Mehta is being probed by the CBI. Mehta is a henchman of underworld kingpin Chhotta Rajan (right). Azhar's links with other bookies are also being investigated.
One of the matches the CBI is specifically looking into is the game against South Africa during the 1996 Pepsi Cup tournament in Sharjah, where Azhar performed poorly. According to information from bookies, the low-scoring effort was intentional.
Also under the CBI microscope is the 1996 match against the Windies in Kanpur, where Prabhakar and Mongia could put on only 16 runs in the last 43 deliveries. It is thought that Azhar was involved in fixing the match.
The transcripts of cellphone conversations between former Delhi cricketer Ajay Sharma and Azhar, according to a highly-placed source, contains "explosive" details.
