Pawar says no IPL taint on his family

Pawar's family reportedly had bid for the Pune franchise through shareholding company

PTI | June 4, 2010



Union minister Sharad Pawar today dismissed reports of his family's involvement in the City Corporation's failed bid for the Pune IPL team, saying the construction company's Managing Director made the attempt in his individual capacity.

Amid reports alleging Pawar family's shareholding in the company, which ultimately lost the bid to the Sahara Group, Pawar said, "I have stated earlier also that neither I nor any of my family members were involved in any IPL team or the bidding process and I reiterate that statement."

The Pawar family reportedly has a sizeable shareholding in the Pune-based company but the former BCCI President insisted that the company's Managing Director Aniruddha Deshpande was given permission by its Board of Directors to get involved in the bid in an individual capacity.

"We were not involved at all in the bidding process. Even in the report, Mr Deshpande has made his position absolutely clear," the ICC President-elect told reporters.

"In City Corporation's board meeting on the 16th and 17th of that month, the board took a unanimous decision not (to get) involved. (But) the managing director was eager to get associated with the bidding process, so he was allowed in his individual capacity," he said without specifying the month in which the meeting took place.

"In (the Board's) resolution, it was made absolutely clear that there is no direct or indirect involvement of any shareholder other then Mr Deshpande personally," he said.

Pawar rubbished suggestions of any underhand dealing in the bidding process, saying if he had used his influence, the company wouldn't have lost to Sahara.

"Mr Deshpande, Maharashtra Cricket Association and Akruti of Mumbai collectively tried to get this bid but they did not succeed. Neither Mr Deshpande nor his colleagues succeeded in getting IPL teams. The effort was made, that is correct ...

but they didn't get the bid," he said.

"I was somebody in that organisation. Had I used any influence, do you think it would have lost the bid?" he asked.

Pawar reiterated that the IPL is clean and there is nothing murky about the ownership patterns and financial transactions in the league.

"There is no corruption. The government agencies are inquiring. Anyone who has done anything wrong will be punished. Investigating agencies will take care of it," he said.

Comments

 

Other News

Mumbai has just 1.28 sq.m. of open space per person: Study

Mumbai`s public space crisis is as much about mismanagement as it is about scarcity, and offers a governance roadmap that can be implemented without new legislation, according to a new report by the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) and the NGO Alliance for Governance and Renewal (NAGAR).  

Lok Sabha passes amendment bill to improve public examination system

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by a voice vote after an extensive discussion. Replying to the debate, minister of state (independent charge) for science & technology; earth sciences and MoS in the PMO, Dr. Jite

Shri Abhijit Phukon (IES, 2004) appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

 Shri Abhijit Phukon (IES: 2004) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. His appointment, approved by the

Shri Avanish Kumar Mishra (ISS, 2000) appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances.

 Shri Avanish Kumar Mishra (ISS: 2000) has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India. The appointment, approved by the Appointments

Millets are thriving. Are millet farmers?

The story of millets is nothing short of extraordinary. Once seen as the food of the poor and downtrodden, they are now seen as the food of the health conscious and the elite. Today, these nutri-cereals occupy prominent shelves in premium supermarkets, feature on the menus of gourmet restaurants, and are e

More judges will not fix courts without better court work practices

A vacant courtroom cannot decide a case. Neither can a poorly managed courtroom simply decide twice as many cases after receiving an additional judge. Judicial capacity and court productivity are related, but they are not the same. The distinction matters because India’s district and subord

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter