`Sufficient evidence' against GCA officials, say police

Police said on Friday that there was "sufficient evidence" of involvement of the Former deputy chief minister and president of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) Dayanand Narvekar, GCA secretary Vinod Phadke and former GCA treasurer Ramnath Shankardas in the sale of fake tickets for the India-Australia one-day international (ODI) on April 6.

Deputy inspector general of police, Karnail Singh told reporters in Panaji after their interrogation that it was established that they had a hand in printing of bogus tickets, thereby cheating cricket enthusiasts.

Several thousand ticket holders were denied entry into the stadium on the day of the ODI as it was packed to capacity and they became victims of police lathicharge, he said.

Narvekar was released on conditional bail by the JMFC, Margao on Wednesday, while Phadke, who surrendered before the same court, was granted conditional bail yesterday. Shankardas, who was arrested immediately after the scam was unearthed, is also on bail.