Indian pacer S. Sreesanth’s hope of being acquitted of the charge of spot-fixing in the last season of the Indian Premier League and returning to the cricket field received a shot in the arm on Monday with the Patiala House Court of Delhi finding missing links in the investigations by the Delhi police special cell.
A composed Sreesanth told The Hindu that he was patient and has faith in the judiciary. “By god’s grace, my training is progressing well and I am looking forward to get back to the cricket field,” he said.
Sreesanth’s counsel and senior Supreme Court lawyer Rebecca John said that the court’s observations on Monday have strengthened the player’s case. Stating that the court didn’t take up the police’s plea for the cancellation of bail of Sreesanth, Ms. John said the fact that the court found it fit to grant bail to the likes of Ajit Chandila, who was denied bail earlier, rules out the possibility of cancellation of Sreesanth’s bail. Senior High Court lawyer and family friend of Sreesanth, K. Ramkumar who was in Delhi as a mark of support to the cricketer, said that the court observed missing links in the investigation and expressed doubt whether it is progressing in the right direction. “The court also didn’t find any reason to invoke the provisions of the dreaded Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the players including Sreesanth,” he said.
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Mr. Ramkumar said that the court’s decision to grant bail to the likes of Ajit Chandila was proof of the police’s inability to produce substantial evidence to prove the charges. The case has been posted for October 7.