Sourav Ganguly does not see conflict of interest in role as IPL GC member while ATK co-owner holds RPS

Sourav Ganguly admits to having a small stake in Indian Super League (ISL) team Atheltico de Kolkata (ATK), where Sanjiv Goenka’s RPG group is the major stake-holder. While Ganguly is also on the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council, his ATK co-owner is in possession of new IPL team Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). While Ganguly admits to owning a share with Goenka in ATK, he does not see a conflict of interest in him being on the IPL GC. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier informed the ombudsman that they were in the dark about Ganguly’s business links. ALSO READ: Sourav Ganguly-led CAB rejects 10 reccomendations of the Lodha Committee

The conflict of interest allegation was made by Niraj Gunde, who alleged that Ganguly was violating BCCI’s conflict of interest rules by holding on to his position in the IPL GC even as a business associate of his is in possession of the Pune franchise of the IPL.

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

“It is true that I have a small stake in Atletico de Kolkata… Atletico de Kolkata is owned and managed by Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd. I am a partner with 6.67 per cent share in ‘Catch 22 Infomatics LLP’, a limited liability partnership which has about 75 per cent share in Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd. In other words, my stake in Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd. is about 5 per cent,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by thehindu.com.

“However, I have no interest or stake in or in connection with New Rising Promoters Pvt. Ltd. which bid at the auction held on December 8, 2015. I am neither a shareholder nor a director of New Rising Promoters Pvt. Ltd. or companies or entities which are its shareholders. I have no personal knowledge of the shareholding pattern of New Rising Promoters Pvt. Ltd.,” Ganguly further stated in his defence.

“Sealed bids had all been submitted on that day itself. I was away in London and returned that morning to Delhi and by the time I reached the venue of the meeting, the technical bids were already opened… As a member of the GC, it is only then that I came to learn of the bids…” concluded the former India skipper.