The match-fixing story is back on the front page. The Income-tax department, after 'Operation Gentleman' and subsequent questioning of the players, officials and bookies are said to be preparing an appraisal report to be submitted to the Government some time next month. In the process, they have come across documents which contain details of some `unusual' transactions by players, officials and bookies.

The documents were found during the raids conducted in July. The sources said "income tax authorities would complete the "status report" on the raids carried out at the official and residential premises of leading cricketers, administrators and bookies in July last, by next month," according to PTI.

The reports compiled by the department has recorded the statements of those whose premises were raided. The department's highly-placed sources said several top cricketers and bookies were confronted with these "unusual" deposits and withdrawals from their bank accounts and for want of suitable explanation, deemed some deposits to be their undisclosed income.

The sources also added that many cricketers and bookies were being questioned over the various withdrawals and deposits from their bank accounts. The sources said that in some cases the deposits ran into lakhs without naming the person and added that they are probing the outflow of the money.

The various firms and other establishments in which these players, officials and bookies have been part of or owned will be scrutinized separately. The sources said that there was a trepidation that some of the accounts could have been used for converting black money into white. The sources added that the credit card of all these people would also be checked.

The players, bookies and administrators would submit a reply to the IT department after the status report is sent to them. The taxmen would then prepare the final assessment report and ask them to pay tax at the rate of 60 per cent of undisclosed income. If any of the players or administrators still did not disclose all the income, a penalty of 100 to 300 per cent could be levied besides recommending cases for prosecution, the sources said. Taxmen have so far summoned Kapil Dev, Md Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Ajay Sharma, Nikhil Chopra and alleged bookies Mukesh Gupta and Rattan Mehta for questioning. As a quote from Albert Einstein says "The important thing is not to stop questioning," for the department to unearth the truth.

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