CEO of talent management firm Cornerstone Bunty Sajdeh on Monday (July 6) defended his client Virat Kohli, saying third parties with "vested interest" are trying to malign the Indian skipper’s image with conflict of interest allegations based on assumptions.
Kohli got dragged into the conflict of interest row after Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) life member Sanjeev Gupta’s complaint.
In his complaint, Gupta claimed that Virat is conflicted as he holds two posts – captain of the Indian team and director of a venture which has co-directors linked to Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment Private Limited that has on board, several of his teammates.
Meanwhile, BCCI ethics officer DK Jain has said he "will examine" the complaint made against the biggest star of Indian cricket.
"This is with reference to the recent conflict of interest speculations surrounding Virat and Cornerstone. It is unfortunate to repeatedly see Virat's name being dragged into absurd allegations every now and then," Sajdeh said in a statement to PTI.
"Such speculations are based entirely on conjecture, nothing more. Virat is a contracted, exclusive client of Cornerstone exactly like the rest of our esteemed talent roster," he asserted.
"And as a responsible agency, we once again reiterate that there is no question of any conflict of interest with Virat or any other of our talent for that matter. But third parties with whatever vested interests prefer to think otherwise," he further added.
Kohli doesn’t hold any post in Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment Private Limited. He is, however, a director at Cornerstone Venture Partners LLP and Virat Kohli Sports LLP alongside Amit Arun Sajdeh (better known as Bunty Sajdeh in Indian cricket circle) and Binoy Bharat Khimji.
Last year, Gupta had also lodged similar complaints against Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, which were deemed "infructuous" by the ethics officer.
"I request them to simply check all facts before jumping to their own conclusions. We carry out our business in a very professional and transparent manner which can be easily verified from the documents filed with public authorities from time to time. This is all we have to say on this matter once and for all," Sajdeh concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
