The BCCI Ethics Officer Justice (Retd) DK Jain has once again made headlines as he recently found former Board president N Srinivasan’s daughter and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) president Rupa Gurunath guilty of “Conflict of Interest”. The order passed on Thursday as well.

Rupa Gurunath is the first woman president of a BCCI affiliated unit and she is also the full-time Director of India Cements Limited (ICL) as well. And now, she has been found guilty for her relation with ICL’s Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL). Meanwhile, the order shared that CSKCL is a part of the ICL “umbrella”. Moreover, CSKCL owns the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League as well.

In the Order, Jain added, “All these facts go on to show that a circuitous web of entities including CSKCL has been created under the umbrella of ICL. The management and governance of all such entities directly or indirectly, lies in the Board of ICL, notwithstanding the defence pleaded that ICL has no stake in CSKCL”.

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“In the given factual scenario, it can be safely inferred that the Respondent (Ms Gurunath), in her capacity as Whole Time Director and Promoter of ICL, has close association with Trustees of IC Shareholders Trust and the Directors of CSKCL, which has Franchise Agreement with the BCCI. This is one of the recognised forms of Conflict of Interest in Rule 38(1) (i),” the order again stated.

Rule 38 (1)(i) of BCCI constitution reads “Direct or Indirect Interest constitutes: When BCCI, a member, the IPL or a franchise enter into contractual arrangements with entities in which the individual concerned or his/her relative, partner, or close associate has an interest. This is to include cases where family members, partners or close associates are in position that may or may be seen to compromise an individual participation, performance or discharge of roles.”

While sharing his points, Jain further wrote “For all the aforementioned reasons, Ethics Officer is of the that a case of conflict of interest is made out against the Respondent. It is held accordingly. Having arrived at the aforesaid conclusion, the BCCI shall take requisite steps in accordance with law, to ensure due compliance of Rule 38 (2) of the Rules in case of the Respondent.”

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According to the BCCI’s Rule 38 (2), “….The failure to issue a complete disclosure or any partial or total suppression thereof would render the individual open to disciplinary action which may include termination or removal without benefits. It is clarified that declaration doesn’t lead to presumption that in fact a questionable situation exists, but is merely for information and transparency.”