Date:24/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/24/stories/2007052409680100.htm

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Maninder Singh granted bail

Staff Reporter

Friend Saim Siddique remanded to two-day police custody

Former cricketer Maninder Singh being produced at Karkardooma court in Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The former Indian cricketer Maninder Singh, arrested by the Narcotics Branch of the Delhi police at Preet Vihar for allegedly being in possession of 1.5 gm of cocaine, was granted bail by a local court here on Wednesday.

His cricketer friend, who was arrested along with him, has been remanded to two-day police custody. The police allegedly recovered 100 gm of charas from him.

The accused were produced in a Karkardooma court that granted bail to Mr. Singh on furnishing a personal bond of Rs.50,000 and a surety for a like amount.

At a press conference, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Narcotics Branch) A.S. Cheema said the other person arrested with Mr. Singh was not a Nigerian but an Indian named Saim Siddique who allegedly used to buy cocaine for him. "Saim plays league cricket in Delhi and also coaches youngsters at a club. He is a very close friend of Maninder and even manages his financial matters."

The police had arrested an alleged drug peddler Aslam with 13 gm of cocaine in March. During interrogation, Aslam purportedly disclosed that he used to supply cocaine to Mr. Siddique. Subsequently, the Narcotics Branch mounted surveillance on him and learnt that he had been supplying drugs to Mr. Singh also. On Tuesday when Mr. Singh was on his way to the airport to board a flight to Mumbai, the police intercepted his vehicle. They recovered 1.5 gm of cocaine from him and 100 gm of charas from his friend. They were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

During interrogation, Mr. Singh disclosed that he had been taking drugs for the past year and a half. "He said he resorted to drugs as he was going through a rough patch in his personal life," said Mr. Cheema. For the cricketer-turned-commentator, the past few months have been very hectic as he was in the panel of commentators for a television channel beaming the Cricket World Cup. He then went to London and returned a few days ago. He said he was going to Mumbai to "destress" himself. Mr. Siddique had allegedly contacted his sources in Mumbai to arrange drugs for Mr. Singh.