New Delhi:
A reward of Rs.25,000 has been announced for providing information about the whereabouts of former Indian cricketer Jacob Martin, who is evading arrest in a human trafficking case, police said Thursday.
The case was lodged against Martin at the Indira Gandhi International airport police station in December 2004.
Martin, who played 10 one day international cricket matches for India, took a cricket squad of 17 players to Britain in 2003 and, according to him, 16 of the 17 players returned to the country.
Police said that initially one person Nimesh Kumar was found travelling on fake passport. During interrogation, he told police that his journey was arranged by Rajender Bhiku Bhai Patel, Jacob Martin and Janak Lal Bhogi Raj Pancholi for Rs.7 lakh.
"Kumar said that Jacob Martin had prepared a bogus cricket team in the name of Ajwa Sports Club, Vadodara, Gujarat and he was a member (player) of the above team going to Britain," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, IGI Airport, R.A. Sanjeev.
According to police, the statements of family members of Kumar and his relatives were also against Martin and Patel.
Patel was arrested later but Martin remained absconding. Martin applied for bail in the Supreme Court Tuesday but his plea was rejected.