Former India wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, whose name surfaced during the interrogation of Mumbai-based bookie Shobhan Mehta, on Saturday denied of having "ever met or known Mehta."
"I do not know Shobhan Mehta. I have never met him or talked to him," Mongia said in Ahmedabad.
When asked about the claims made by the Gujarat Police that Mongia had given "tips" to bookies about the important factors affecting the result of a cricket match, the stumper said: "I have never given tips to anybody either during my foreign tours or during any match being played in the country."
He said he had clarified regarding all matters related to cricket betting to the CBI which had earlier probed the betting allegations against the Indian players. The name of Mongia and other Indian players like Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja were cropped up during the interrogation of Mehta by Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Saturday.
Jadeja, who served a five-year ban before the BCCI's case against him was dismissed, and Mongia are playing domestic cricket in India.
BCCI President Ranbir Singh Mahendra denied to comment on their status and said that if the Gujarat Police gives the Board anything in writing, it would be forwarded to the Working Committee for further action.
