Chennai-based hotelier Vikram Agarwal, who was arrested recently in connection with the IPL betting case, was released on Friday after a city court granted him bail, holding that no non-bailable offences were made out against him.
The CB-CID police arrested Mr. Agarwal on Monday last on the charge of playing a vital role in the IPL betting syndicate and that he had allowed a bookie to use his hotel premises. The arrest was made based on confessions of Uttham C. Jain alias Kitty. Contending that he has been implicated in the case, Mr. Agarwal filed a petition before a metropolitan magistrate court, Saidapet, seeking bail.
Magistrate P. Saravanan ordered that Mr. Agarwal be released on bail with conditions.
While granting bail, the magistrate reasoned that the co-accused in the case was let out on bail, while a few others were granted anticipatory bail. “No serious criminal antecedent was cited against Mr. Agarwal. In the absence of any documentary evidence and witnesses to prove that he committed a non-bailable offence, this court is inclined to grant bail,” said Mr. Saravanan.
The magistrate pointed out that Mr. Agarwal in his confession statement as well as during custodial interrogation stated that he allotted rooms in his hotel to Kitty when he indulged in betting on cricket matches. Betting on sports event is only a bailable offence as per section as per section 51 of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act.
The magistrate said the prosecution failed to produce any evidence to establish that Mr. Agarwal committed or abetted an offence under Section 420 (cheating) read with 109 (abetment) of the IPC.
“In the remand report, he is alleged to have committed offences under Section 4(d) of Tamil Nadu Gaming Act and a provision of the Chennai City Police Act 1988. All the above offences are bailable,” noted Mr. Saravanan.
The court directed Mr. Agarwal to execute a personal bond of Rs.10,000 and to furnish two sureties for a similar sum.
