Assault case: Cricketer Amit Mishra arrested in Bengaluru, gets bail

Legspinner Amit Mishra was arrested and later released on bail in Bengaluru on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a woman in September when he was in the city to attend a training camp.

Legspinner Amit Mishra was arrested and later released on bail in Bengaluru on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a woman in September when he was in the city to attend a training camp for the ongoing series against South Africa.

India’s Amit Mishra celebrates the wicket of South Africa’s Farhaan Behardien during the fourth ODI in Chennai on October 22, 2015.(AP Photo)

The cricketer was arrested after a nearly three-hour-long interrogation at Ashok Nagar police station after he appeared before the police complying with their summons issued last week. Bengaluru Police had summoned Mishra to appear before them in a week’s time after booking him for the charges based on the complaint by the woman.

The 32-year-old spin bowler is part of the Indian Test squad for the first two Tests against the visiting South African side.

The woman in her complaint had claimed that she had known Mishra for the past three years and the alleged incident took place in a hotel room where the cricketer was staying when he came to the city along with the Indian team for a training camp last month.

The complainant had said she went to Mishra’s room in his absence. At that time, Mishra also came there and (they) had a heated argument following which, she alleged, the cricketer assaulted her and abused her. Consequently, an FIR was lodged.

Mishra had been booked under the Indian Penal Code sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 328 (causing hurt with intent to commit an offence). The complaint was lodged on September 25.

Read | Complainant to withdraw physical assault case against Amit Mishra

However, a day later, the woman had decided to withdraw the case against Mishra. “Two days after lodging the complaint, I approached the police station and told them that I have in principle decided to withdraw the case,” the complainant told PTI in Bengaluru on Thursday. “I am waiting for Mishra to appear in the police station. We both will amicably withdraw the case. We were friends. We fought, and continue to remain friends here after,” she said.

(With inputs from PTI)