Ex-India cricketer held with cocaine::Maninder Singh

Former Indian Test cricketer turned television commentator Maninder Singh has been arrested for possessing cocaine at his residence in the Capital on Tuesday.

The narcotics department of the Delhi Police arrested Maninder with 1.5 grams of cocaine from his Preet Vihar residence on Tuesday night after the police got a tip-off. He was being questioned by police.

A suspected drug peddler, identified as Sayam Siddique, who was with Maninder when the police raided his house, was also arrested.

Former left-arm spinner Maninder Singh, who made his India debut at the age of 17 against Pakistan in 1982-83, played 35 Tests and 59 one-day internationals for the country.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act makes a distinction between possession for personal consumption and trafficking, the punishment for the former being limited to between six months and one year only.

The onus is on the accused to establish that the drug in question was meant for personal consumption and not for sale or distribution.

More than 3 grams of cocaine classifies a person as peddler. A peddler gets more than 10 years jail. Below 3 grams only classifies the person as a user.