Sanjeev Gupta Withdraws Conflict Of Interest Complaints Against Nita Ambani And Several High-Profile People In Indian Cricket
Published - 26 Aug 2022, 08:12 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:12 AM
Former member of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association has requested BCCI Ethics Officer Vincent Saran to withdraw all complaints filed by him against prominent figures of Indian cricket including Mumbai Indians owner – Nita Ambani.
Over the years, Sanjeev Gupta hasn’t shied away from speaking against unethical practices related to the BCCI.
From questioning the roles of Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman for their involvement as members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) (despite holding coaching roles with different IPL teams in 2019) to highlighting Virat Kohli’s business ventures while holding Indian team captaincy in 2020, Gupta has been at the other side from time to time.
Gupta’s recent complaint was against Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani after Viacom 18 bagged the digital rights to live stream IPL matches for the next five years.
Sanjeev Gupta withdraws Conflict of Interest complaints to safeguard health and life
According to an Indian Express report, Gupta, in his communication to Justice Saran last month, wrote that Ambani is “hit by an instance of Conflict of Interest”, according to BCCI rules, since “she is the owner of BCCI IPL Franchisee of Mumbai Indians Team & also RIL-Owned / Subsidiary Viacom 18 won the IPL Media rights thus Viacom 18 entered into a contractual arrangement with BCCI for IPL media rights”.
The report also mentioned that Gupta, fifteen days after filing the complaint, emailed the chief justices of the Supreme Court, marking copies to the BCCI ethics officer & ombudsman, and to the media, expressing his wish to withdraw all his pending complaints, and that this would be his last mail to them.
In the same email, he cited an incident on August 20 that pushed him into taking this action to safeguard his “health and life.”
“Unforeseen ugly incidence [sic] occurred on 20 Aug 2022, which deteriorated my health issues drastically, thus said unforeseen ugly incidence have compelled me to leave at once my 6 & ½ years selfless pure intent for letter & spirit compliance of The Law of the Land, The Supreme Court of India verdicts, Lodha Reforms, BCCI Constitution, to safeguard my health & life,” Gupta wrote, a copy, as reported by The Indian Express.
There were as many as 21 petitions filed by Gupta from July 2020 that are pending till now. The complaints included against Ganguly, Tendulkar, Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and many more.
“Nothing of mine was at stake, it was Supreme Court of India verdicts sanctity & compliance was at stake, for which I selflessly without any vested interest combated day & in day out since 4th Jan 2016, when Lodha Committee submitted their Lodha Reforms Report to Supreme Court of India.
“I entered with empty hands on 4 Jan 2016 with sole pure intent of compliance of Supreme Court verdicts & on 20 Aug 2022 I exited with empty hands only,” Gupta further wrote in his mail.
“Lastly , this is probably my last email , unless & until need arises due to unforeseen ugly incidence occurred on 20 Aug 2022 & if any harassment, humiliation, insult, threat, atrocity is done with me then I will immediately apprise you all Respected Sirs & Others.”
