Arrest warrant issued against Haryana all-rounder Deepak Punia

Haryana all-rounder Deepak Punia is facing jail-time after an arrest warrant was issued against him by the Indian Navy. The Acting Petty Officer was found guilty of representing the state team in the Ranji Trophy without having a no-objection certificate (NOC). In the warrant, issued on October 24, Commanding Officer of INS Angre Commodore M M S Shergil, has authorised the police in Haryana and Mumbai, as well as the “Naval Provost Marshal, Commodore Bureau of Sailors” (both in Mumbai) and “DNPM Delhi Area (INS India)” to arrest Punia.

The Mumbai Indians player was employed by the Services in 2014, before representing Saurashtra for two seasons and moving to Haryana this season. The 24-year-old received the warrant after playing two matches for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy last month. The right-handed all-rounder hasn’t represented Haryana since the arrest warrant was issued. Meanwhile, Haryana plays Kerala in their final Ranji Trophy fixture at Lahli from Friday.

After the situation arose, the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) Secretary, Satyavrat Sheoran, sent a letter to the BCCI, asking his NOC to be terminated. It also requested the cricketer to be sent back to his parent department.

Contents of the letter

As per Indian Express the letter states: “It has come to our notice that players taken NOC for 2016-17 are being allowed by BCCI to use the same NOC for the current season … In this regard, it has been reported that Deepak Punia is continuing with old NOC … hence it is requested that Deepak Punia is reverted back to his parent department.”

In reply, the BCCI has stated that since Punia had availed NOC from Saurashtra, the team he last represented they are satisfied with his paperwork. “Punia has fulfilled the NOC formalities and on the basis of which we had allowed him to play for Haryana.”