New Delhi: BCCI ombudsman Justice (Retd) D K Jain has summoned Sourav Ganguly for a hearing 20 April over an alleged conflict of interest situation arising out of his dual role as Cricket Association of Bengal president and Delhi Capitals advisor.
Coincidentally, Delhi Capitals are scheduled to play Kings XI Punjab at the Feroz Shah Kotla the same day. The Committee of Administrators (CoA), through BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, has requested the ombudsman to allow Ganguly to continue in his dual role, provided he makes full disclosures of his interests.
However, the BCCI note also stated that the ombudsman needs to examine Ganguly’s dual role as ‘member of Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC)’ as well as DC advisor.
Three Bengal-based cricket fans — Bhaswati Shantua, Abhijeet Mukherjee and Ranjit Seal — had alleged that Ganguly’s duty as a state association president is in direct conflict with his role as an advisor of an IPL franchise.
“The parties may appear before the Ethics Officer, BCCI, for a personal hearing on 20 April 2019 at 11 am, at New Delhi at the venue, which shall be communicated by the BCCI to the parties herein, by email, on or before 19 April,” Justice Jain intimated to Ganguly’s legal counsel in an email which is in possession of PTI.
Justice Jain has also summoned Shantua, Seal and Mukherjee for depositions in person as per principles of natural justice.
The former India captain, Ganguly, in a written affidavit through his legal counsel, had refuted the charge.