MCA orders probe into corruption allegations against Country Cricket Club at JSCA, Kolkata

The Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has launched a probe into allegations of corruption against the Country Cricket Club (CCC), a commercial establishment operating from the premises of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA). The investigation comes following complaints lodged by Nirmal Kaur, the wife of late Amitabh Choudhary, former JSCA president, and Sunil Sinha, a retired IPS officer.

In a letter addressed to the ministry’s additional secretary, Kaur raised concerns about the misuse of public property, personal financial benefits derived from assets created with public funds, irregularities in tender processes, conflicts of interest, and rigged voting practices within the company registered under the Companies Act.

Kaur specifically implicated Rajiv Kumar Singh, a Patna-based advocate and former executive director of Country Cricket Club, in her complaint. She alleged that Singh, despite not being a resident of Jharkhand, maintained a permanent residence within the JSCA Stadium premises in Ranchi and was involved in directing the affairs of the company.

Furthermore, Kaur highlighted a violation of the Companies Act by Singh, as rules set by the Bar Council of India prohibit a practising advocate from holding an executive position in a company. Singh had served as the executive director of the company from September 2018 until his resignation in June 2023.

The MCA has approved an inspection of Country Cricket Club in accordance with Section 206 (5) provisions and has requested a detailed inspection report to be submitted to the ministry. The allegations raised by Kaur and Sinha have prompted a thorough investigation into the operations of CCC and the potential misconduct within the JSCA.