Man who drove car onto cricket pitch is depressed, says family

Police had arrested the man, identified as Girish Sharma, and booked him for trespassing.

A day after a 32-year-old man drove his car onto the pitch during the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh at the Air Force ground in Palam, his family claimed he is depressed and is undergoing treatment.

Police had arrested the man, identified as Girish Sharma, and booked him for trespassing. However, he was granted bail after his family showed his medical documents to police. DCP (southwest) Shibhesh Singh told The Sunday Express: “The man’s father said he is unwell and is being treated at a hospital. He showed us his medical documents.”

According to police, Singh, an MBA graduate, has been depressed since 2015. His parents took him to AIIMS for treatment. Police said he is currently unemployed and lives with his parents in Rohini’s Buddh Vihar.

Sources said that during questioning, Sharma told police that he was returning home after dropping his sister at IGI Airport. As he drove past the Air Force ground, he saw a match was underway, and stopped to watch. However, he didn’t find space to park his car. He told police that there were no restrictions by security personnel, and he drove inside “to look for a parking spot”.

In the wake of the incident, sources said security around the ground has been increased, with police officers being deployed at each gate.