BCCI suspends Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra

Raj Kundra

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Monday suspended from all cricketing activities Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra for betting in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 tournament.

“Raj Kundra has been suspended pending enquiry,” BCCI vice president Chitrak Mitra told reporters here.

Delhi Police officers had earlier claimed that Kundra, a British national, had admitted to betting and his passport had been seized.

Kundra, a businessman and husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, was interrogated by the Delhi Police last week, and the Delhi Police Commissioner revealed about Kundra admitting to betting in the IPL.

The BCCI working committee meeting is currently underway in Mumbai and the committee took the decision to suspend the Rajasthan team owner.

Three Royals players have been arrested over allegations of spot-fixing and betting during the recently-completed edition of the IPL, including Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

The BCCI official said that a report on the players by the board’s anti-corruption unit was submitted in a sealed envelope at the meeting and would be sent to a separate disciplinary committee.

According to an agreement between the BCCI and IPL sides, if any franchise group or owner acts in a way which has a “material adverse effect” on the reputation of the BCCI or the league, then their agreement will be terminated.

Kundra owns 11.7 percent of the franchise.