Uttarakhand High Court Demands Arrest Remand Sheet in Haldwani Cricket League Fraud Case
The Uttarakhand High Court, while hearing a petition challenging the alleged illegal arrest of Vikas Dhaka, the primary accused in the Haldwani cricket league fraud case, has directed the petitioner's counsel to submit a copy of the arrest remand sheet. This document had been previously requested but was not provided to the court.
Discrepancies in Arrest Timing Highlighted During Hearing
During the proceedings, the petitioner's counsel informed the court that police detained Dhaka at the police station starting from 11:30 am on a recent day. An FIR in the fraud case was registered at 9 pm on the same day. However, the remand sheet indicates his arrest occurred at 4 pm the following day, raising questions about the timing and legality of the detention.
Details of the Alleged Cricket League Fraud
The case centers on an alleged fraud involving the Epic Victory Cricket League (EVCL), which was proposed to be held at the Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Gaulapar, Haldwani. Police have accused the organizers of selling franchises by promising that EVCL matches would take place from February 3 to 12, with participation from national and international-level players.
Vikas Dhaka, identified as the organizer and owner of the league, is alleged to have cheated several individuals out of approximately Rs 32 lakh in the name of franchise investments. In earlier disclosures, Nainital SSP Manjunath T C stated that a case was registered against former Sitarganj MLA Narayan Pal and Dhaka in connection with this alleged fraud amounting to Rs 32 lakh.
Court Proceedings and Next Hearing
The division bench of Justices Ravindra Maithani and Siddharth Shah presided over the hearing. After considering the arguments and evidence presented, the court has listed the case for further hearing on February 23, pending the submission of the required arrest remand sheet.
This development underscores the judicial scrutiny being applied to the arrest procedures in high-profile fraud cases, emphasizing the importance of transparency and adherence to legal protocols in law enforcement actions.
