I think there is a saying that the "most likely explanation is usually correct". In this case, Bajji has admittedly called Symonds a monkey in the past, and 3 Australians now say that they heard him say it again.
Scenario 1 - he slipped up and said it again, regrets it, but clearly things have gone way to far to admit this now.
Scenario 2 - 4 Australians (3 witneses and Ponting) get together and decide that one of the Indian bowlers (not their best bowler, mind you) is a chance of ruinng their lives by maybe helping India win a test match (not even a whole series, mind you) so they get together and formulate a devious plan to sideline this (not quite best) bowler by outright lying, deviously ensuring that no Umpires or microphones were in the vicinity of the conversation, and sticking to their story over hours of hearings and days of press coverage.
Which is more likely? Remembering of course that the Australians involved have no form of reporting/lying in this regard.
