MUMBAI: Businessman Raj Kundra, promoter of the Match India Poker League (IPL) that was was launched last year, has been accused of match fixing by a former owner of IPL’s Goa franchise.
The accusations were made by Sachiin Joshi, owner of the Goa King’s – which was one of the teams that took part during the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2017. Joshi,
an Indian film actor and producer has accused Kundra of rigging the IPL to determine the ultimate winner.
The 2017 IPL was won by Team Mumbai All Stars.
Pertinently, it was Kundra, who is married to actress Shilpa Shetty, who first called out Joshi in public by issuing a lawsuit accusing him of reneging on a payment of $60,000 which was outstanding towards the purchase of the Goa King’s franchise.
Kundra alleged that Joshi enjoyed the publicity he received during the IPL but did not pay the outstanding amount despite repeated calls and messages.
In retaliation Joshi filed a counter lawsuit, claiming that Kundra fixed the Match IPL and determined the outcome of the eventual winner.
In a statement, Manoj Asrani, Group CMO of Joshi’s firm Viiking Ventures said: “Raj Kundra initiated a poker tournament by the name of Match IPL and around 10 teams were formed. When we got to know that the tournament was rigged for a specific team to win, we withdrew our participation and did not sign any agreement. We made sure that the payments don’t clear as there was nothing to pay for and also informed other partners that we are out of this fraudulent tournament. We are pursuing this legally and will make sure that this goes through the right justice channels.”
It is worth noting that Kundra had to give up his minority stake in Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals after being indicted for betting and banned from any role in the IPL by the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee.
