Mumbai Cricket Association member detained at international airport carrying forged passport

A member of the marketing committee of the Mumbai Cricket Association, Riyaz Bhati was on Tuesday detained at the international airport for allegedly using a forged passport. Bhati was on his way to South Africa when he was detained by the officials from the immigration department. The officials found discrepancies in the passport which Bhati was carrying, and he was booked for cheating and forgery under the Passports Act. Bhati represents the cricket club of a top city college and was appointed to the MCA’s marketing committee earlier this year in 2015. He was remanded in police custody for two days.

According to Mumbai Mirror, Bhati, a developer, was named in a land-grab case in the suburban area of Malad eight years ago. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was revoked in the case as some of the accused allegedly had links to gangster Chhota Shakeel.

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The report added that due to lack of evidence against Bhati, he was eventually discharged from the case.

The deputy police commissioner (zone 8), Virendra Mishra informed, “Immigration officials observed discrepancy in the passport. During questioning it appeared that Bhati was carrying a forged passport. He was arrested and later produced in a court.”

The vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Ashish Shelar said that the governing body had “nothing to do with Bhati’s arrest and activities.” He added, “The issue will be discussed in the managing committee meeting. The committee will decide if any action needs to be taken against the erring member.