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Conflict of interest complaint filed against Virat Kohli

Kohli
by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

India captain Virat Kohli has a conflict of interest allegation levelled against him after a complaint, outlining his role in two business ventures, was sent to the BCCI ethics officer on Sunday.

According to a report in the New Indian Express, Sanjeev Gupta, the complainant, who is a life member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, alleged that Kohli is occupying key positions in two business ventures that are directly linked to a talent management agency that recruits Indian players and oversees their commercial engagements.

The complaint, which was received on email by BCCI ethics officer-cum-ombudsman Justice [retd] DK Jain, points out that Kohli is in “blatant violation” of the BCCI constitution, as Kohli’s co-directors at Virat Kohli Sports [LLP] and Cornerstone Venture Partners [LLP] are also directors in Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment Private Limited, which recruits and handles India players, including, according to the New Indian Express, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill and Kohli himself.

“Shri Virat Kohli is occupying two posts at a time in blatant violation to BCCI Rule 38 (4) approved by Supreme Court Of India. As such, he must relinquish his one post at once in compliance. His two posts are covered as under: A – 38(4)(a) – Player and B – 38(4)(o) – Contractual Entity, to be read with BCCI Rule 38(1) (iii),” the complaint said, according to the report.

In the past, Gupta has also filed similar conflict of interest complaints against Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid, but all three cricketers were cleared of any charges.

“I have received a complaint,” Justice Jain told PTI. “I will examine it and then see if the case is made out or not. If yes, then I have to afford an opportunity to him [Kohli] to respond.”

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