Share

Parnell freed after drug bust

New Delhi - Two Indian Premier League cricket players were among nearly 100 people detained for drugs tests after police busted a party, reports said Monday, in the latest controversy to hit the tournament.

GALLERY: Past weekend in pictures

Police said South African Wayne Parnell and Indian Rahul Sharma, both members of the Pune Warriors, were detained after police raided and found drugs at the bash at a Mumbai hotel on Sunday night, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).

"All those who were detained last night during the rave party were allowed to go after their blood and urine samples were taken," a police officer was quoted as saying by the PTI news agency.

A total of 96 people were detained at the rave, where cocaine, MDMA and cannabis were seized, Additional Commissioner Vishwas Nagre Patil told the agency earlier.

Police also said the director of the party venue, the Oakwood Premier hotel in the city's west, had been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Sharma was quoted on the NDTV news website saying he was at the hotel for a different party. "I had just reached there but nobody was present," he said.

The players' detention is the latest in a string of controversies to hit the IPL, which draws to a conclusion next week.

Last week Australian Luke Pomersbach was accused of molesting a woman and beating up her fiance. He denies the charges and was granted bail on Saturday.

A few days earlier, five Indian players signed to IPL teams were suspended after an undercover TV report alleged they were prepared to take money for spot-fixing, an illegal practice in which parts of the game are fixed.

On Wednesday night, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, was involved in an ugly late-night row with officials at Mumbai's main Wankhede cricket stadium.

He was subsequently banned by the Mumbai Cricket Association for five years from entering the stadium.

The annual IPL tournament also faces allegations of massive corporate corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion, as well as secret deals to hide teams' real owners and even links to India's criminal underworld.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1195 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
30% - 1391 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2113 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE