Former cricketer and parliamentarian Kirti Azad was busy running around at the Karkardooma Court to meet the deadline of 4 p.m. to complete all the formalities for release of former cricketer Maninder Singh, who was arrested on Tuesday by the Delhi police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotrophic Substances Act for possessing 1.5 grams of cocaine.

As time was running out, advocates being on strike added to the woes of the litigants. Even the banks were too far away to arrange the required sum of Rs one lakh to stand surety in the limited time.

"I would give documents of my vehicle to get a friend released who I believe is completely innocent," Azad told rediff.com as he filled in forms to complete the formalities.

"Now the whole thing is over and Mani is going to be released from Delhi's Tihar jail by 8 p.m. after the relevant order reaches the jail authorities. Tomorrow I am going to speak to him because I do not believe that he is the kind of person who indulges in these sorts of things. There seems to be something fishy about the whole thing. At first we were told that he was arrested from his house in Preet Vihar and then the cops changed it (place of arrest) to his vehicle. Then they changed it to a park. This is utter rubbish," he said.

He refused to go into the merits of the case as it was now sub judice and it is for the court to decide.

Maninder looked tired in red and white checked shirt, blue cap and blue jeans. Though his friends including former cricketing coach Gurcharan Singh were present, his family was conspicuous by their absence.