Narvekar gets wing-clipped bail

Sandesh Prabhudesai
26 April 2001  

Cutting down almost all his wings, Dayanand Narvekar, president of the Goa Cricket Association and former deputy chief minister, was granted a conditional anticipatory bail by the high court today, after three days of continuos hearing.

Along with him, GCA secretary Vinod Phadke has also been granted bail, in the infamous case of bogus ticket racked worth Rs one crore at the final cricket ODI played between India and Australia in Goa on 6 April.

While quashing the order of the Margao district and sessions judge rejecting their bail applications on 21 April, the high court has however suspended him as the GCA president for one month, while also debarring him from carrying out any financial transactions or participate in the GCA activities.

Besides making it mandatory to attend the police station whenever summoned between 9 am to 8 pm, both of them have been warned not to act in any manner so as to influence any witness during the course of investigations and extend full co-operation to the police.

Justice B H Marlapalle however found that the contention of the police that both of them were not co-operating with the investigating authorities and were giving evasive replies were not enough grounds to reject the anticipatory bail applications.

The single bench of the Mumbai high court here has however prohibited them from leaving Goa without the permission of the DIG of Police, while also seeking his permission to leave their respective residences and report to the respective police station when they go to other town.

Besides surrendering their passports, they have been also told to surrender their mobile phones along with sim cards. They have been also instructed not to hold such instruments. All these conditions would remain in force for one month or till the chargesheet is filed, whichever comes earlier.

Taking serious note of Narvekar getting his supporters along with flower-deck vehicles and band to the court building yesterday with a plan to take out a procession, both of them were also warned 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. In fact he adjourned the final order from morning to afternoon today while debarring their supporters from entering the court premises.

"Let us have some reasonable conduct", said Justice Marlapalle, concluding his lengthy order. While Narvekar was told to present a bond of Rs one lakh and two sureties of like amount, Phadke has to present a bond of Rs 50,000 along with two such sureties.

Pending their arrests, GCA treasurer Rama Shankardas (now removed) and ticket contractor Chinmay Fallari have been remanded to judicial custody after spending 14 days in police custody. Other four persons have however been already released.

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