The Kerala High Court granted anticipatory bail to Indian cricketer S Sreesanth in connection to a cheating case in which he is an accused.
The order was passed by Justice Mohammad Nias CP, who observed that the matter had been resolved between the parties.
Sreesanth, in his anticipatory bail application, asserted that he was falsely implicated in the case filed by the Kannur Town Police.
The purported transaction at the center of the case allegedly took place in 2019 involving the complainant and two other individuals (co-accused).
The accused individuals reportedly convinced the complainant to invest in a villa project. Subsequently, the co-accused suggested the establishment of a cricketing academy in Kollur near Mookambika temple under Sreesanth’s guidance.
The complainant alleged that the co-accused promised him a partnership in the proposed cricket academy.
Based on these assurances, the complainant claimed to have transferred money to the first and second accused in 2019.
When the plans fell through, the complainant filed a cheating case against the first and second accused, as well as Sreesanth, leading to Sreesanth’s anticipatory bail plea.
In his petition, Sreesanth asserted that he played no role in the alleged cheating episode. Instead, he had provided free advice when approached for input on starting a cricket academy.
Furthermore, Sreesanth contended that he had no financial dealings with the complainant or the first and second accused.
He also claimed ignorance about his name being used by the co-accused in representations to the complainant without his consent.
The plea stated, “The petitioner (Sreesanth) out of his interest and passion for the game, gave tips and consultations to the 1st accused when he approached him with the proposal to start a cricketing academy that too in Kollur, a holy land for Hindus being the Home ground of Goddess Mookambika Devi.
His naivety never made him realize the trouble that was being portrayed by the 1st accused. The petitioner has never had any transaction with the complainant.”
Sreesanth also expressed suspicion of a conspiracy behind the delayed complaint, suggesting that it was filed at a time when he was experiencing positive developments in his career.
The petition stated, “In fact, the lodging of the complaint is only to harass the petitioner and to ruin his reputation. The petitioner is now playing in the Legends League Cricket and is performing well in the same. The petitioner is also being considered in a few other Professional League Cricket auctions as well, and he is keeping himself in good cricketing form. It is at this time that the petitioner shockingly and sadly, from news reports came to understand that a crime has been registered against him by the complainant alleging an offence of cheating.”
