NEW DELHI: Former cricketer Maninder Singh, arrested for possessing cocaine, was on Wednesday granted bail by a city court as the quantity of narcotics allegedly recovered from him was very small.
"On account of very small quantity of cocaine having been recovered from Maninder Singh, he is released on bail," Additional Sessions Judge SC Malik said after a brief hearing during which the former spinner denied drug addiction charges.
The court enlarged the cricketer-turned-commentator on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety of like amount and rejected the Police plea for his 14 days' judicial custody.
The investigating officer (IO) from Narcotics Branch had asked for judicial custody of the cricketer contending that 1.5 grams of cocaine had been recovered from his gloves.
Singh (41), who had to represent himself in the court as his counsel could not appear due to lawyers' strike at Karkardooma courts, however, vehemently denied the charges of consuming or possessing the contraband.
"Nothing was recovered from me and I strongly deny that I am addicted to drugs," he told the judge, opposing the claim of the Delhi Police.
The judge, after hearing the arguments, asked the IO if Singh was required for any further inquiry in the case, to which the latter replied in negative.
Further noting that the quantity allegedly recovered from him was "very small", the court ordered cricketer's release on bail with a condition that he would not tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses.
