Joy and relief were evident on the faces of Sreesanth’s family members, as they came down to pray at the St Antony’s Church in Kaloor late on Monday.
Twenty-six days after his arrest from Mumbai on May 16, and 12 days after he was sent to Tihar jail in Delhi, the Rajasthan Royals player was granted bail.
His parents, Shanthakumaran Nair and Savithri Devi, brother-in-law Madhu Balakrishnan and sister Nivedita, along with a few friends and well-wishers, reached the church at 10.15 pm and spent around 15 minutes praying and lighting candles.
A few of Sreesanth’s friends, led by his schoolmate Aby Mathew who was visibly elated, were present to receive his family members with cheerful hugs.
Sreesanth’s father told Express, “Thanks to God’s grace. It is a huge relief and we are very happy. We are also grateful for all the support we received from various quarters. So many people have called since the news came out that Sreesanth has received bail. When we returned from the Chottanikkara Temple, there were so many missed calls on our mobile phone. It has been a custom for us to visit the church here. Although we have been staying at Madhu’s house in Tripunithura these days, we have been coming here regularly”.
Madhu Balakrishnan, Sreesanth’s brother in law and a popular playback singer, said that the cricketer, who is reported to have been praying intensely while in jail, would return home on Tuesday.