Maninder confesses to using drugs: Police

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) Former test cricketer Maninder Singh has confessed to consuming cocaine and said he had been taking the banned substance for some time.

The confession was made to the sleuths who interrogated him yesterday at the Narcotics and Crime Prevention Cell office in Shakarapur, DCP (Narcotics) A S Cheema said today.

The cricketer also told during interrogation that he had been taking drugs due to family problems and Saim Siddique, who too has been arrested, was his supplier, said the DCP adding that 100 grams of 'charas' was seized from the possession of Maninder's conduit.

Maninder Singh was arrested yesterday by the Narcotics and Crime Prevention Unit of Delhi Police along with Sayam Siddiqui at about 0815 hrs near Defence Enclave Park in East Delhi's Preet Vihar area, while he was on his way from his residence in Mausam Vihar to the airport to take a flight to Mumbai.

Police said they had been trailing Maninder after learning that he was a 'regular user' of the banned drug and that Sayam Siddiqui, a Delhi league cricket player and coach for junior boys at the NSCI Club, was his 'main supplier'.

The raid was conducted after information that Maninder was leaving for Mumbai to 'unwind' and would be carrying his 'supplies'.

After arrest, their personal search led to the recovery of 1.5 gm of Cocaine from Maninder and 100 gm Charas from Sayam.

Maninder Singh has has played 35 test matches and 59 one day International Cricket matches for India.

UNI