Narvekar granted conditional bail

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

With almost all his wings clipped, Goa Cricket Association president and former deputy Chief Minister Dayanand Narvekar was granted conditional anticipatory bail by the High Court on Thursday, after three days of hearing in the infamous case of bogus tickets for the fifth India-Australia One-Day International in Goa on April 6.

Along with him, GCA secretary Vinod Phadke was also granted bail.

While quashing the order of the Margao District and Sessions judge rejecting their bail applications on April 21, the High Court, however, suspended Narvekar from the presidentship of the GCA for one month, and also debarred him from carrying out any financial transactions or participating in GCA activities.

The court also made it mandatory for Narvekar and Phadke to visit the police station whenever summoned between 0900 hours and 2000 IST, and warned them not to act in any manner so as to influence any witness during the course of investigations.

Justice B H Marlapalle found the police's contention that the duo are not cooperating with the investigating authorities and giving evasive replies were not enough grounds to reject the anticipatory bail applications.

The single bench of the Mumbai High Court in Goa also prohibited both from leaving Goa without the permission of the DIG of Police.

Besides being asked to surrender their passports, Narvekar and Phadke have been also been ordered to surrender their mobile phones along with the SIM cards. They have also been instructed not to hold such instruments. All these conditions will remain in force for one month or till the charge sheet is filed, whichever comes earlier.

The judge also took serious note of Narvekar getting his supporters to the court on Wednesday in flower-deck vehicles and with a band in tow, with a plan to take out a procession. He warned him not to participate in any such celebration organised by anybody.

"If any such incident is pointed out, I will immediately withdraw the order of granting bail," said Justice Marlapalle.

"Let us have some reasonable conduct," the judge said, concluding his lengthy order.

While Narvekar was told to present a bond of Rs 100,000 and two sureties of like amount, Phadke has to present a bond of Rs 50,000 along with two such sureties.

Meanwhile, pending their arrests, GCA treasurer Rama Shankardas and ticket contractor Chinmay Fallari have been remanded to judicial custody after spending 14 days in police custody. Four persons implicated in the scam have however been released.

Earlier report
Miffed judge postpones ticket scam hearing