DRUG-TRAFFICKERS' NAMES FIGURE IN MATCH-FIXING

NAMES OF some identified drug-traffickers have come up in the cricket
match-fixing investigations.

Investigators now believe that some of the money used to fix matches
could have been generated from drug smuggling operations.

While in CBI investigations Ratan Mehta has emerged a key point-man in
fixing matches, records available with the Narcotics Control Bureau
show that his father Surinder Mehta was one of top-most
drug-traffickers of the country in the '70s and '80s.

Surinder Mehta was even arrested from JFK International Airport in New
York in the United States in 1981 when he was trying to smuggle in
about 5 kilograms of high-grade heroin. He also figured prominently in
the NCB watch-list.

Surinder Mehta, NCB records show, was suspected to be a member of the
Gurbax Singh Biriyani gang. Later on, he branched off and started his
own independent operations.

It was during this time that he acquired the Mini Mahal Restaurant in
Vasant Vihar, allegedly to launder funds generated through
drug-running operations. It is also alleged that the Mehta family has
stakes in another restaurant in South-Extension. Interestingly, in
1999, his daughter, Mona Mehta, was arrested by the Delhi Police when
she was found to running a betting racket. The police raided A-13/A
Vasant Vihar in this connection and recovered mobile phones, computers
and television sets from there.

Investigations revealed that she was involved in betting on World Cup
cricket matches that were being played in England. Ratan Mehta, who
was then alleged to be in England, was also suspected to be involved
in the betting racket.

The involvement of yet another identified Delhi-based drug-dealer has
also come up during the investigations. "Though his name has come up
during our investigations, we are yet to ascertain his exact role in
the fixing of the India-SA Pepsi cup," a senior Enforcement
Directorate officer said. Officers, however, refused to divulge his
name.

On the other hand, investigations of the ED have revealed that
well-known drug-runner, R K Virmani was one of key persons who had
fixed the India-SA Pepsi series.

Virmani, according to senior officers of the directorate, was arrested
a few years ago by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence when 12
kilograms of high-grade heroin was found hidden in his farm-house in
south-Delhi. When the ED raided his house last month, he is believed
to have sought immunity and promised to volunteer inside information
on match-fixing. He, however, refused to volunteer the information
later on.