Sourav Ganguly Yet to Respond to Conflict of Interest Query: BCCI Ombudsman

Sourav Ganguly and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have not responded to complaints of conflict of interest. The Board's Ombudsman AP Shah, had written to BCCI president Shashank Manohar seeking a clarification on Ganguly's conflict of interest issue. (Read More in Cricket)

The mail, in a separate query, has also asked for "rules/regulations/guidelines" pertaining to role and function of IPL commissioners. (Lodha Panel's Top 10 Commandments to BCCI: One State One Association, Come Under RTI)

Shah has, in fact, directed the BCCI to reply by February 8 to a query from activist Niraj Gunde.

The email, which was sent to Manohar, has also been sent to BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, GM (Game Development) Ratnakar Shetty and Ganguly on his two e-mail ids. (Indian Premier League: No 'Conflict of Interest' for Sourav Ganguly, Insists Shashank Manohar)

"This is with reference to Application Number 1 of 2016 (Applicant: Niraj Gunde), making certain allegations of conflict of interest against Mr Sourav Ganguly, who is a BCCI administrator. The BCCI was asked to provide its response in this matter by 27.01.2016, and Mr Ganguly was asked to provide its response by 28.01.2016. No response has been received," the mail states.

"Specifically, the allegations are that Mr Ganguly is the co-owner of a company by the name of Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd., which owns the a football franchise by the name of Atletico de Kolkata. The company is allegedly co-owned by Mr Ganguly, along with businessmen associated with the RPG group.

"The RPG Group successfully bid for a cricket team based out of Pune that will participate in the forthcoming seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The allegation is that Mr Ganguly and the RPG group were partners in another commercial venture at the time of the bid for the Pune franchise being made, which was allegedly not disclosed," it stated.

"The issue is whether this situation would lead to a conflict of interest, and it involves an interpretation of the rules laid down in this regard," it further stated.

The Ombudsman then goes on to ask three specific questions to Manohar.

"No. 1: What is the stand of the BCCI on this issue?

No. 2:  Are the rules for conflict of interest intended to be exhaustive, i.e., do the rules cover all circumstances that the BCCI conceives to be within its definition of conflict of interest?

No. 3: Could you also make available the rules/regulations/guidelines pertaining to the role and function of IPL commissioners?".