DDCA Secretary Vinod Tihara in Meerut jail for the past one month; was believed to have COVID-19

Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) general secretary Vinod Tihara has been slightly controversial since the time he was appointed for the post. Recently, a report came which suggested that Tihara had self-isolated himself as he was suffering from COVID-19. A further report said that the secretary has now recovered from the COVID-19 but wants to continue staying in quarantine.

In an interesting turn of events, it was revealed that Vinod Tihara is in fact in a Meerut Jail. Last month, all of a sudden he was not been able to contact to, which led the DDCA official to believe that Tihara might have got the COVID-19 and has decided to stay in isolation.

According to the recent developments, it has been reported that Tihara has been in jail for violating GST norms. The SSP of Meerut, Ajay Sahni updated by stating that the DDCA general secretary was arrested by DRI wing of Noida last month with the charges of violations of GST norms.

Vinod Tihara in Meerut Jail for GST norms violation

“A Delhi resident named Vinod Tihara was arrested by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) wing of Noida on March 17 on allegations of violations of GST norms and is currently in Meerut jail,” Ajay Sahni said according to the Times of India.

Meerut Jail Superintendent Dr BP Pandey further gave more details on the allegations against the secretary. “Vinod Tihara, a resident of Delhi‘s Rohini has been in Meerut jail since March 17. The case no is 2/20 and he has been charged under Customs Act 132 and 135,” Pandey said.

Under Section 132 of Indian Customs Act, “if a person knowingly makes, signs or uses, or causes to be made, signed or used, any false declaration, statement or document in the transaction of any business relating to the customs, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine, or with both.”

Under section 135, there are multiple clauses and sub-clauses dealing with “misdeclaration, fraudulent evasion and carrying, concealing or purchasing goods which are liable to confiscation”.

There hasn’t been any clear update on what led to the arrest of Tihara. As the DDCA secretary, Tihara is the representative of Delhi at the BCCI office and an important person for the state cricket board. A senior official from DDCA said his family had informed that he is in self-isolation. The official revealed that the board hasn’t been able to contact Vinod since mid-March.

“For the longest time, we were under the impression that Vinod ji has tested positive for COVID-19. One or two people who contacted his family members were told that he is under isolation. His phone has been switched off for the past month,” a senior DDCA office-bearer said. As the lockdown is going in India, the bail hasn’t been approved until now.