BCCI pays tainted Jacob Martin a one-time grant

Jacob Martin has been given his one-time grant as a former cricketer by the BCCI

Former India cricketer Jacob Martin, who was arrested, but later released on bail, relating to charges of human trafficking, has been paid a one-time grant of Rs. 30 Lakhs by the BCCI. Martin was arrested on April 27, 2011 after he allegedly formed a bogus cricket team and sent Nimesh Kumar to the UK by producing visa using fraudulent methods.

While other offenders of the game, namely Ankeet Chavan, S Sreesanth, and Ajit Chandila have not been given their grants by the board, Martin, it seems, has been looked at with different eyes.

As mentioned on the BCCI’s website, where the records related to the grants given to the former cricketers are present, Martin’s name appears at no. 118. This was done even as Delhi Court quashed his plea challenging the charges that were framed against him.

On December 1, the Additional Sessions Judge had dismissed Martin’s revision petition challenging the charges of corruption and criminal conspiracy laid against him by the magisterial court.

According to a Press Trust of India report, Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar said, "Even if the documentary evidence has been weeded out as already discussed, the statements of aforesaid witnesses (of police) are enough to frame charge against the revisionist (Martin).”

“What is the worth of these statements, can only be seen during the trial. However, I am of the opinion that the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate has rightly framed the charge against the revisionist and I find no infirmity in the impugned order and the charge," he added, while dismissing the cricketer’s plea.

The trial against Martin is still in court.