The Kerala High Court has issued an oral direction to the State authorities, directing them not to arrest Indian cricketer S Sreesanth, accused in a cheating case.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Mohammad Nias CP on Friday directed the Public Prosecutor to get instructions in the matter and listed the matter for further hearing on November 28.
The cricketer had approached the High Court claiming that he was falsely implicated in the case registered by the KannurTown Police.
As per the case, the accused had persuaded the complainant to invest in a villa project. Later the co-accused allegedly proposed that a cricketing academy could be set up instead in Kollur near Mookambika temple under the guidance of Sreesanth.
The complainant claimed that the co-accused promised him a partnership in this newly conceived cricket academy. On such assurances, the complainant said he transferred money to the first and second accused in 2019.
However, when the plans fell through, the complainant filed a cheating case against the first and second accused as well as Sreesanth.
Sreesanth then filed an anticipatory bail plea in the High Court, claiming that he had no role in the alleged cheating episode. Rather, he had only provided inputs for free when he was asked for advice to start a cricket academy.
The cricketer further claimed that he has not had any financial dealings with the complainant or the first and second accused.
He submitted that he had no knowledge that his name was being used by the co-accused while making representations to the complainant. This was done without his consent, added Sreesanth.
Sreesanth claimed in the plea that he gave tips and consultations to the first accused out of his interest and passion for the game. He said the first accused approached him with the proposal to start a cricketing academy in Kollur, a holy land for Hindus and the home ground of Lordess Mookambika Devi .
Sreesanth claimed that his naivety never made him realise the trouble that was being portrayed by the first accused. He further claimed that he has never had any transaction with the complainant.
He further submitted that he suspected a conspiracy was afoot behind the delayed complaint, given that it was filed at a time when he was going through a positive time in his career.
The cricketer had raised concern that the complaint was part of an attempt to harass him and harm his reputation.
Advocates Renjith B Marar, Lakshmi N Kaimal, P Rajkumar, Keshavraj Nair, Arun Poomulli, Preetha S Chandran, Abhijith Sreekumar, Anand Remesh, CR Rekha and Abhiram S appeared for Sreesanth.
He alleged that lodging of the complaint was only to harass him and ruin his reputation on the grounds that he was now playing in the Legends League Cricket and performing well in the same.
The petition further claimed that Sreesanth was also being considered in few other Professional League Cricket auctions as well and was keeping himself in good cricketing form.
(Case title: S Sreesanth v State of Kerala)