Dinesh Mongia mulls legal action against Lou Vincent

Dinesh Mongia has claimed innocence and is mulling legal action against New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent, who has alleged that the former India cricketer was involved in fixing during the unsanctioned and the now defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL). Vincent had told a London courtroom that Mongia was one of the key members of a 'Gang', that also included former New Zealand captain Chris Cairns and pacer Daryl Tuffey, who fixed matches during ICL.

"I totally deny these allegations. I don't know what Mr Vincent was doing then, what he is doing now. What kind of cricket he played with Chris Cairns or Cairns played with him," the 38-year-old Mongia said. "I played cricket at top most level, I have done nothing wrong."

Mongia said that he will consult his lawyers regarding next course of action since his image had been tarnished. "..I will consult with my legal team and decide what action needs to be initiated."

"I would say if somebody like Vincent is making such a statement, then something is really wrong. As far as I am concerned, I have never had any problems with Vincent," he said. "As far as I am concerned, I am totally clean. If there is anything Vincent has anything against me, let him come out with proof."

The 36-year-old Vincent spoke at the Cairns' perjury trial where he admitted that while playing for Chandigarh Lions in the ICL, he took part in match-fixing on the senior cricketer's insistence. Vincent took the names of Tuffey and Mongia during the trial. Mongia said though he played for the Chandigarh Lions "I don't know what the New Zealanders (Cairns, Tuffey and Vincent) were doing."

"Now, Tuffey's name has also cropped up. I don't know what kind of distress or depression Vincent is going through, about which I have come to know through the media," Mongia said.

Cairns used me, abused me and spat me out

Meanwhile, Vincent told the Southwark Crown Court that two years after helping Cairns fix matches, Tuffey was furious that he still had not been paid. "He said that he hadn't received a cent, and he'd f**king kill him," Vincent told the court.

When Cairns' lawyer Orlando Pownall, QC asked Vincent why he carried on "betraying your sport for nothing" despite not receiving any money, the tainted cricketer replied: "I was used by Cairns. He used and abused me, spat me out and went running and hiding." When asked if he spoke to Tuffey about the non-payment in 2008, Vincent said: "I didn't need to, I believed Chris would look after us."

Cairns successfully sued Modi for 1.4 million ($2.14 million) after being accused of match-fixing on Twitter in January 2010, but now faces allegations that he lied during the case. Vincent said he had rejected a request from Cairns to support his civil case against Modi because to do so "would have been a complete lie". Tuffey, on the other hand, gave a statement that supported Cairns in his libel case.

During cross examination, Vincent asked Cairns' lawyer if Tuffey would appear as witness in this trial. "Where is [Tuffey] today? Is he going to help defend Chris this time around?"

Vincent, who continued providing evidence for the second day, was grilled by Pownall who constantly questioned his motives and credibility. Pownall accused Vincent of providing "an account that's been rehearsed over the years and isn't true". "Your lies have been not only extensive, but in some cases quite clever when you've sidestepped the question."

Cairns' lawyer also questioned Vincent as to why he did not report Cairns' fixing approach when he was obliged to do by ICC. ICL was an unsanctioned tournament, not recognised by the cricket governing body. "I wasn't going to report Chris Cairns: he was my captain, my coach, my mentor," Vincent said.

Pownall asked the cricketer if he functioned as a match-fixing double agent and also questioned Vincent's betting habits. "I can't recall something I'm not really interested in," Vincent said, mentioning that he was not interested in gambling.

Vincent was visibly tired after the barrage of cross-questioning, which prompted Mr Justice Sweeney to adjourn the court an hour early. Vincent said he was "extremelyfatigued" and left the witness stand with tears in his eyes.