BCCI launches probe into MSD’s conflict of interest case

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has launched a probe against India’s ODI and T20I captain MS Dhoni’s alleged conflict of interest issue due to his association with Rhiti Sports Management Private Limited. 

Rhiti sports manages Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja amongst others and also handles marketing for IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings - of which Dhoni is captain. 

Dhoni’s friend, Arun Pandey has started the company and the former is believed to have a 15% stake in the firm. 

According to a report in Hindustan Times, BCCI have a three-member probe committee looking into the matter and the BCCI President, Jagmohan Dalmiya is a part of the committee. 

The other two members are Jyotiraditya Scindia and KP Kajaria. 

In 2013, Rhiti Sports had come out with a statement saying that Dhoni no longer holds any shares in the company but it has emerged that BCCI is still looking into the matter. 

While Arun Pandey had insisted that Dhoni held the shares of the company only for a brief period ‘to secure certain old outstandings’, the involvement of Dhoni closely in other business ventures also raised a few question marks. 

Dhoni and Pandey are closely involved in at least three other firms, with both having equity. 

Hence a conflict of interest is certainly a possibility and the same is expected to be probed by BCCI. 

“We can only make an announcement about the outcome of the findings once the committee submits its report,” said Dalmiya.