Aappeal in SC over Narvekar's bail

Sandesh Prabhudesai
27 April 2001  

Goa government has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the high court order to grant anticipatory bail to Dayanand Narvekar, president of the Goa Cricket Association and former deputy chief minister, and GCA secretary Vinod Phadke.

"Our team along with the additional advocate general is already in Delhi", said DIG of Police Karnal Singh. They are hopeful of getting the high court order reversed as the apex court has rejected one such anticipatory bail application last week itself.

Meanwhile, with Narvekar and Phadte being stripped off their respective positions for one month by the high court while granting conditional bail yesterday, a group within the GCA is gearing up to set the things right.

"We have convened a meeting of the managing committee tomorrow evening to take stock of the situation and appoint acting president and secretary", said vice president Sudin Dhawalikar, also the legislator, presently supporting the ruling BJP government.

The GCA would also explore the possibility of expelling treasurer Rama Shankardas, who was arrested by the police a fortnight ago after being found involved into the bogus ticket racket worth Rs one crore along with contractor Chinmay Fallari. Both of them have been now released.

While the GCA needs at least two third of majority to remove any office bearer, Dr Shekhar Salkar, another GCA official and BJP activist, feels that the association should convene a general body meeting to take a decision on expulsion if they cannot garner enough support within the managing committee.

Enraged with the conduct the GCA at the final ODI, the BCCI in the meanwhile has decided to issue a show cause notice to the GCA as one of its official said that the fake tickets were printed at the behest of the board.

A C Muthiah, the BCCI president, also says that the board plans to set things right as genuine ticket holders not getting entry into the stadium due to bogus ticket sale is becoming a regular phenomena nowadays. Goa is the first place where police enquiry has begun in this regard.

On the other hand, the Sports Authority of Goa at its general body meeting held three days ago, has also decided to issue a show cause notice to the GCA asking them why the state-level body for cricket should not be derecognised for its alleged involvement in the bogus ticket racket at the final ODI played here between India and Australia on 6 April.

State sports minister Sanjay Bandekar, who chaired the meeting, has also sought nod of all the members to recover arrears of Rs 9.52 lakh of the 1997 ODI while also deciding to recover Rs 18.05 lakh of this match at the rate of 20 per cent towards the gate collection, reversing the earlier decision to collect only Rs 10 lakh.

The SAG has also recommended to the government to conduct a judicial probe into the racket by appointing a retired high court judge. Chief minister Manohar Parrikar has already made an announcement in this regard.

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