Former Indian cricketer acquitted in criminal case after 22 years

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Jacob Martin has been acquitted in a criminal case after 22 years. The Patiala House Court in Delhi cleared the former cricketer from Vadodara in a case registered in 2004. He had been charged under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 12 of the Passport Act.

The allegations were related to fake UK immigration stamps, travel arrangements and financial transactions. However, the court found that the charges could not be proved. It observed that there was no evidence regarding the alleged financial transactions or Jacob Martin's ownership or control of the Ajwa Sports Club. The court also noted that none of the witnesses was able to substantiate the allegations.

Speaking to the media, Jacob Martin said that one of his team members had stayed in the UK even after the visa had expired and later returned to India using immigration stamps. He said the case subsequently turned against him. Martin added that his name was not included in the FIR at the beginning of the investigation and that he was named in the case only after the other player was questioned.

He said he lost his job with the Railways because of the case and described the latest verdict as a turning point in his life. A right-handed batter, Jacob Martin played 10 ODIs for India, scoring 158 runs at an average of 22.57.