Non-bailable warrant issued against IHF secretary, treasurer

BANGALORE, APRIL 1: Two office-bearers of the Indian Hockey Federation face a non-bailable warrant issued by a Bangalore court.The 14th Ad...

BANGALORE, APRIL 1: Two office-bearers of the Indian Hockey Federation face a non-bailable warrant issued by a Bangalore court.

The 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, in an order passed on February 29, has issued non-bailable warrants in the name of IHF Secretary and Treasurer, K Jothikumaran and JM Tyagi respectively, in the case filed by the Karnataka State Hockey Association (KSHA) towards reimbursement of the expenses of the 58th Senior Nationals.

It may be recalled that KSHA had sought legal redress last year, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (dealing with dishonouring of cheques), in order to collect an amount of Rs 18 lakh that was due from the IHF for expenditure incurred during the 58th Senior National hockey championships conducted by the KSHA in May 1997.

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The KSHA stated it had spent Rs 29.50 lakh in organising the Nationals. The IHF had made staggered payments to the KSHA during the championship, amounting to Rs 11.50 lakh. A cheque issued, almost a year after the Nationals, for the remaining amount was returned on two occasions by the KSHA’s bankers with the endorsement “funds insufficient”.

The KSHA had complained to the court about the twin-dishonour of the cheque.

Meanwhile, the IHF paid an amount of Rs 5 lakh, out of the Rs 18 lakh, in March 1999, but KSHA persisted with the court case.

The court took cognisance of the offence on August 28, 1999 and ordered for the issue of summons against Jothikumaran and Tyagi to appear before the court on December 29, 1999. When the two did not appear on the said date, the court issued summons by `Registered Post with Acknowledgment Due’ (RPAD) asking Tyagi and Jothikumaran to appear in person on February 29, 2000. And when the two failed to appear on that date too, the court ordered for the issue of a non-bailable warrant against Jothikumaran and Tyagi, returnable by September 29, 2000.

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Jyotikumaran and Tyagi will now have to present themselves before the court either by force (arrest) or by choice (to facilitate the continuance of the court proceedings). A recall of the warrant or the moving of bail against the arrest is possible only if the two accused personally appear before the court.