Ganguly: There is no conflict of interest

The former India captain admits he has a small stake in ATK and adds he sees no conflict of interest.

Ganguly was replying to a conflict of interest allegation.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has informed the office of the ombudsman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he has a “small stake” in Atletico de Kolkata, the football club which participates in the Indian Super League (ISL), and, which is owned by the Sanjiv Goenka-led RPG Group.

However, Ganguly goes on to add that he sees no conflict of interest even though he is a member of the governing council of the Indian Premier League, which, in December, ratified Mr. Goenka’s bid to purchase a franchise, now called Rising Pune Supergiants.

The BCCI has informed the office of the ombudsman that it is unaware of the business links of Ganguly and that this information could be obtained directly from the former cricketer. >Read the BCCI's reply to the ombudsman

Ganguly was replying to a conflict of interest allegation made by Niraj Gunde, who complained to the ombudsman, Justice (retd.) A.P. Shah, that Ganguly was in violation of the BCCI’s rules on conflict of interest.

“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 writes.

"However, I have no interest or stake in or 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.,” he adds.

Ganguly and the BCCI have also admitted that the former was present at the auction venue in New Delhi on December 8, 2015. “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…” >Read Sourav Ganguly's reply to the ombudsman