MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings were one of the best performing teams in the suspended IPL 2021, winning five out of seven games played.
Rupa Gurunath, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) president and daughter of former BCCI president N Srinivasan's daughter has been found guilty of 'Conflict of Interest' with an indirect association with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings.
The order passed by BCCI Ethics Officer Justice (Retd) DK Jain said that Rupa, who is a full-time Director of India Cements Limited (ICL), also holds a president position in the BCCI affiliated unit, which is the state association. With ICL's close association with Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL), Rupa has been found guilty of indirect conflict of interest.
The 13-page order stated that CSKCL is part of the ICL umbrella and CSKCL owns the Chennai franchise. The TNCA can challenged the order in a court of law.
MS Dhoni-led CSK were banned for two years by the Lodha Committee in 2015 and didn't feature in the subsequent editions of the IPL in 2016 and 2017. They returned to the fold in 2018 and won the first season after their comeback.
The complaint was filed by one Sanjeev Gupta from Indore, who is a former life member of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA). In the Order, Jain wrote, “All these facts go on to show that a circuitous web of entities including CSKCL has been created under the umbrella of ICL. The management and governance of all such entities directly or indirectly, lies in the Board of ICL, notwithstanding the defence pleaded that ICL has no stake in CSKCL,” Jain stated.
“In the given factual scenario, it can be safely inferred that the Respondent (Ms Gurunath), in her capacity as Whole Time Director and Promoter of ICL, has close association with Trustees of IC Shareholders Trust and the Directors of CSKCL, which has Franchise Agreement with the BCCI. This is one of the recognised forms of Conflict of Interest in Rule 38(1) (i),” the order was categorical.
Rule 38 (1)(i) of BCCI constitution pertains to 'Conflict of Interest – direct or indirect. “Direct or Indirect Interest constitutes: When BCCI, a member, the IPL or a franchise enter into contractual arrangements with entities in which the individual concerned or his/her relative, partner, or close associate has an interest. This is to include cases where family members, partners or close associates are in position that may or may be seen to compromise an individual participation, performance or discharge of roles.”
Jain observed in his order that Rupa’s is a case of ‘indirect’ conflict of interest if not ‘direct’ since CSKCL has entered into a franchise agreement with the BCCI. While concluding his 21-point order, Jain wrote, “For all the aforementioned reasons, Ethics Officer is of the that a case of conflict of interest is made out against the Respondent. It is held accordingly.
Chennai Super Kings were in the second position in the points table of IPL 2021 winning five games out of the seven they played before the season was suspended due to a rise in cases of COVID-19.
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