Former India cricketer Jacob Martin, who was wanted in connection with a human trafficking case, has been arrested from Delhi, police said on Wednesday. He was arrested from Babarpur area of Shahadra on Tuesday night, DCP (IGI Airport) R A Sanjeev said. Delhi Police had announced a reward of Rs 25,000 to anyone who would provide information about Martin. The Vadodara-based cricketer was wanted in connection with a case registered at IGI airport police station in 2003. He had allegedly taken some youth to the UK on the pretext of playing club cricket there in 2003 after taking money from them. The matter came to light after one Nimesh Kumar was found travelling on a fake passport.
On questioning, Kumar had disclosed that agent Rajender Bhiku Bhai Patel arranged his journey with the help of agents Martin and Janak Lal Bhogi Raj Pancholi for Rs seven lakh. “Martin prepared a bogus cricket team ‘Ajwa Sports Club’ Vadodra, Gujarat and identified himself as a member (player) of the team,” Sanjeev said. During investigation, police had repeatedly asked Martin to join the probe but he did not. The Supreme Court had last week dismissed his anticipatory bail plea, saying no relief can be granted to him as he is running away from law, and asked him to surrender. Martin, an Indian Railways batsman, had played 10 One-day Internationals for India.
