Tihar stint for cricketers

We are trying to trace the electronic gadgets and the data that were removed from Sreesanth8217;s room,and we need to confront him to determine what was taken away from his room, said the prosecutor. Chief metropolitan magistrate Lokesh Kumar Sharma,however,declined to accept the argument,noting that the written remand application did not mention any missing electronics,and asked the police to explain how the cricketer could be expected to answer questions about something that was done 8220;behind his back.8221;

Police informed the court that after Sreesanth was arrested,his cousin Rajiv was asked to make a phone call to co-accused bookie Jiju janardhan and inform him of Sreesanth8217;s detention.

Jiju,instead of leaving to meet the cricketer at the appointed hotel,called Abhishek Shukla,and gave him the keys to Sreesanth8217;s hotel room.

The police have said that CCTV footage showed the two men entering the pacer8217;s hotel room. The court refused to accept the argument,stating that it would be a miscarriage of procedural justice if the custody was extended,since Sreesanth could not be held liable for things that took place behind his back.

The judge also pulled up the police for not bringing up the question of the missing electronic gadgets.

Have you asked Sreesanth at any point during his 12-day custody about what were the things he left in the hotel room? asked the court,adding that the prosecution should talk about the investigation done today,and not about match-fixing hints and towels, after the prosecutor started to explain the signals that were allegedly used by Sreesanth.

According to the police,Shukla was also given Rs. 5 lakh,which were to be recovered. How can Sreesanth answer that question? The best person to ask would be Shukla who you have not even arrested, commented the court.

Big names under scanner

The prosecution also informed the court that the police were looking into some big names who were in regular contact with the D-Company. The prosecutor,however,added that due to the initial nature of the investigation,he could not elaborate further. The court declined the plea for extension of custody,noting that the Prosecutor8217;s submission was based on assumption,surmises and conjecture, and said it would be a miscarriage of justice if the PC remand was extended.

No bail for Chavan

The court however dismissed a bail plea filed by co-accused and fellow RR player Ankeet Chavan. Chavan,who is scheduled to get married on June 2,had requested bail to prevent the social stigma of a broken engagement for his family and that of the bride. The cricketers advocates also submitted the wedding invitation card,arguing that the bride8217;s family would face humiliation if the wedding did not happen,since cards had already been sent out.

Taking note of the gravity of the alleged offence,the court observed that social sentiments have no place in the consideration of the role of an individual accused.

The bail plea filed by Sreesanth was not taken up by the court due to certain procedural formalities and will now be taken up on June 4.

Separate cells for Sreesanth,Chandila

On reaching Tihar,the arrested Rajasthan Royals cricketers S Sreesanth,Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were informed that they will be lodged in separate cells,according to the jail officials. Not only that,the players and the arrested will be placed in separate jails altogether. while the players have been lodged in Jail number 1,the bookies have been lodged in jail number 3,all in separate cells, a Tihar official said. Jail number 1,incidentally,is also where Gopal Kanda is presently housed and where A Raja was once kept. Sreesanth and his team-mates were brought to the jail around 7 pm on Tuesday evening and a medical examination was conducted. They were then informed of the jail rules.