Vindoo Dara Singh, Gurunath Meiyappan get bail in IPL betting case

Chennai Super Kings boss Gurunath Mieyyappan and Vindoo Dara Singh, both of whom were arrested in connection with an IPL betting case, have both got bail from a Mumbai court.

The duo have been granted bail at Rs 25,000 each and have told them to report to the investigating officer every alternate day.

Two other bookies arrested in the case have also been granted bail.

Speaking to media shortly after the court decision, a defence lawyer confirmed that the two would not be able to leave the country.

Both Singh and Meiyappan were in judicial custody and lodged in the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai till 14 June.

Meiyappan’s lawyer Aabad Ponda had argued that the CSK team honcho was not involved in match-fixing or spot-fixing.

“The one case is that of placing bets with Vindoo. Placing bets is a bailable offence. All the sections levelled against him are bailable except three – 420, 466 and 468 of the IPC. It is not the case that Meiyappan forged documents hence 466 and 468 are not applicable,” he argued.

Relying on a Supreme Court judgment, Ponda contended the basic rule is that in a case which does not fetch life imprisonment, the accused should be granted bail.

None of the sections under which Meiyappan has been charged with invite life sentence, he said.

“Meiyappan responded to the summons issued to him by the police. There is no question of him absconding. Tapping of my phones and all other evidence has been taken by the police even prior to Meiyappan’s arrest,” Ponda argued.

Advocate Satish Maneshinde, appearing for Vindoo, argued that the allegation against the arrested actor can be at the most only for contacting bookies but it cannot be said that he was part of the larger conspiracy.

Maneshinde further argued that the allegation that Vindoo had facilitated the escape of some bookies does not stand as those bookies were not named as wanted accused the day they left the city.

“There is no reasonable ground that he will abscond or tamper with evidence. The reason why this case was foisted on the accused has been met with yesterday,” Maneshinde said referring to N Srinivasan stepping aside as BCCI chief pending inquiry.

The duo applied for bail yesterday but had it opposed by the prosecution on the grounds that the two could tamper with evidence.