Former Goa deputy CM arrested in alleged ticket scamFormer Goa deputy chief minister Dayanand Narvekar was on Monday arrested for his alleged involvement in the ticket scam during the fifth one-day international between India and Australia on April 6, a senior police official said on Monday.

Narvekar, who is also president of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA), has been charged under section 420, 468, 471 and 120 (b) of the IPC.

He was picked up from his residence at Dona Paula, Panaji, at 3.45 pm, DIG Goa Karnal Singh told reporters in Panaji.

A large number of people with genuine tickets were denied entry into the stadium as people with bogus tickets had already entered the stadium. Narvekar was evading arrest by filing petitions before different courts for anticipatory bail. Finally, the Goa bench of Bombay High Court granted him anticipatory bail for a month or till the chargesheet is filed, whichever was earlier.

The state government challenged the High Court's decision before the Supreme Court in the first week of May. The apex court bench, consisting of Justice Quadri and Justice Raju, in their ruling, said the High Court has given anticipatory bail to Narvekar only for a month, Singh said.

Following this interpretation of the apex court's ruling, Narvekar was arrested. Police teams have also been despatched to Mapusa in north Goa to arrest GCA secretary Vinod Phadke, as both the president and the general secretary were on bail.

To a question, Singh said they have not interrogated Narvekar, since the police required custodial interrogation. The Goa assembly speaker has been informed of Narvekar's arrest, who is the MLA from Thivim in North Goa.

© PTI