How Dhoni fuelled Arun Pandey's meteoric rise

Arun Pandey’s claim to fame so far has been being MS Dhoni’s agent and best friend. His innocuous looks and rare appearances are even more deceptive. But ruffle a few documents and do some research and he turns out to be a director in over a dozen companies.

An Economic Times report  lists Arun Pandey as additional director or director in the following companies.

- Kaimur Minerals Private Limited - Rhiti Entertainment Private Limited - Rhiti Sports Management Private Limited - Rhiti Talent Management Private Limited - Rhiti MSD Alamode Private Limited - Rhiti Media Private Limited - Rhiti Infrastructure Private Limited - Rhiti Venture Private Limited - Rhiti MSD-N Motorsport India Private Limited - Rhiti Charitable Foundation - KSS Rhiti Infrastructure Private Limited - Rhiti Vishwamedia Private Limited - Sportsfit World Overseas Private Limited

And all this has happened between 19 April 2012 and 26 March 2013 — a phenomenal rise for Pandey, a former Ranji Trophy player from Uttar Pradesh who lived the life of a nobody until he snapped up Dhoni as a client in his sports management firm. Also, you cannot help but one name pop out of everywhere — Rhiti.

“Those days he used to get Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore per brand. Now he gets Rs 10 crore… The total then was Rs 40 crore. Now more than Rs 100 crore,” Pandey was quoted as saying once in media reports.

Journalists know for a fact that Dhoni places an incredible amount of trust in Pandey, and all his deals go through him. However, how deep does this relationship run?

Click here for the full Economic Times report.