BCCI Ombudsman starts inquiries on conflict of interest allegations

New Delhi: BCCI ombudsman Justice (Retd) AP Shah sought the Board’s response on an allegation of Conflict of Interest against its consultant RP Shah, who is also a Director in a construction company contracted with the Mumbai Cricket Association. The complaint has been filed by independent journalist-cum-activist Niraj Gunde and Office of Ombudsman has asked the BCCI to file a reply in this regard by 2 February. The mail has been sent to BCCI President Shashank Manohar and Game Development Officer Ratnakar Shetty. According to the complaint, RP Shah, who is an employee/consultant of the BCCI, is also a director of construction company B G Shirke Construction Technology, which has a contract with MCA. Incidentally, one of the big bosses of BG Shirke Construction Technology is Maharashtra CA president and IPL governing council member Ajay Shirke. According to the complaint: “MCA, which is an affiliated unit of BCCI, has given BG Shirke Construction Technology Private Limited contract for running the club at Bandra-Kurla on a build-Operate and Transfer mechanism.” The complainant also attached the details of the contract awarded to BG Shirke Construction Technology Pvt Ltd. Gunde has already filed Conflict of Interest complaints against former India captain Sourav Ganguly, media manager Nishant Arora and national selector Vikram Rathour. PTI