Yuvraj Singh arrested in casteist remarks case, released on bail

Chandigarh: Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh was arrested by the Haryana Police on Saturday (October 16) in a case lodged against him for using a casteist slur against India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. However, Yuvraj was reportedly released on interim bail following interrogation, which lasted for three hours.

Superintendent of Police (Hansi) Nitika Gahlaut said over the phone, "We only made a formal arrest and he was released on bail in compliance of the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court."

"Yuvraj Singh came to Hansi on Saturday and we made a formal arrest. He was released on bail bond after a few hours," DSP (Hansi) Vinod Shankar said.

The move came following a complaint filed in February this year by a Dalit activist in Haryana, demanding his arrest and registration of a case under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which aims to prohibit discrimination. A First Information Report or FIR was filed in the case on orders of the court.

The activist, Rajat Kalsan, said, "The police will submit its final report in a few days in the SC/ST court in Hisar and Yuvraj Singh will have to take regular bail from there. He will have to attend the hearings at the court in Hisar. We will do our best to prove his guilt since he has insulted the whole community."

"Also, since the bail was given to him under the SC/ST Act, we are challenging it in the Supreme Court and hopefully you will see him behind bars," Mr Kalsan added.

Yuvraj allegedly made the 'casteist remark' during an Instagram live session with India opener Rohit Sharma in June 2020. The World Cup-winning former all-rounder had issued an apology, saying he never believed in disparity.

In a statement posted on his official Twitter handle last year, Mr Singh had expressed regret "if I have unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments or feelings", adding that his "love for India and all its people is eternal".

"I understand that while I was having a conversation with my friends, I was misunderstood, which was unwarranted. However, as a responsible Indian I want to say that if I have unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments or feelings, I would like to express regret for the same. My love for India and all its people is eternal," the statement added.