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He came, he saw and, apparently, he liked what he saw. But Rainbow Cruises, which owns the houseboat on which Indian cricket coach Greg Chappell spent three days in the Kerala backwaters, has been left to answer a lot of questions — from the police. They have registered a case against it under Section 7(14) of the Foreigners Act.

Chappell and wife Judy were in Alappuzha from February 21 to 24. “Though it was a private visit, the cruise service is required to furnish details of all foreigners who hire its boats in a prescribed format to the nearest police station,” E. Jayaraj, district police superintendent, Alappuzha, told HT. “Besides being a foreign national, Chappell falls in the high-security category. Our initial inquiry shows that such mandatory information was not given.”
Neither Chappell nor the houseboat owner could be contacted despite repeated attempts.

The police learnt of the Chappells’ visit — on the latter’s third day in the state — from an auto-rickshaw driver. The man recognised Chappell when he came onshore to shop. Within minutes, mediapersons and cricket fans reached the scene. The police had to arrange for the coach’s security at short notice. Chappell left quietly, without uttering a word either about his trip or the team’s strategy for the World Cup.

But it has not been that simple for the proprietor of the cruise service. If found guilty, he can be sentenced to five years rigorous’ imprisonment and fined.
baburamesh_in@yahoo.com