SA cricketer surrenders, gets bail

South African cricketer Wayne Parnell, wanted for allegedly taking drugs during a party held at Juhu on May 20 last year, was formally arrested and then granted bail for Rs 10,000 after he surrendered before the special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Judge, IM Bohari.

South African cricketer Wayne Parnell, wanted for allegedly taking drugs during a party held at Juhu on May 20 last year, was formally arrested and then granted bail for Rs 10,000 after he surrendered before the special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Judge, IM Bohari on Monday.

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Parnell, along with another cricketer Rahul Sharma, had been tested positive for drug consumption at the party. In the charge sheet filed on March 6, Parnell had been listed as wanted accused along with other 35 persons.

On Monday, the cricketer appeared before the court along with his wife and team of lawyers before the court hours by 10:45 am. PS Tawde, public prosecutor in the case, argued that they needed his custody for further investigation as he, along with several other foreigners who were tested positive, had fled the country even before the medical reports were released.

The court however rejected the plea as the charges under which Parnell has been booked were bailable and all the accused in the case have been granted bail.

The court asked him to visit Juhu police station on April 10 to finish formalities of investigation. After the investigation and initial formalities, the police will file a supplementary charge sheet in the case against Parnell.

Acting on tip-off, the Juhu police had, on May 20, last year, raided a party at a Juhu hotel where they recovered 110 grams of cocaine, 64 grams of charas and MDMA tablets and rounded up 90 persons including cricketers Parnell and Rahul Sharma.

The partygoers were, however, let off after their blood and urine samples were collected by the police. Out of 90 persons, 86 persons, who tested positive, have been charge-sheeted in the case.