Pune:
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has already promised Parliament that the funds of all IPL team-owners is being investigated. "No guilty or wrong-doer" will be spared, he said on Monday.
Now, income tax officials confirm that their first stop is the controversial Kochi consortium led by Rendezvous Sports World, which won its team for 1530 crores. It's this group, and its link with Shashi Tharoor and his girlfriend, Sunanda Pushkar, that forced the minister to resign on Sunday.
The group includes the Gaikwad family of Solapur; Shailendra Gaikwad was the consortium's CEO till he was asked to step down a few days after the battle between IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and Shashi Tharoor erupted on twitter.
Sources say income tax officials in Pune are questioning the Gaikwad family, known to be close to several leading cricketers, about its source of funds. Other members of the consortium will also have to explain how they're bankrolling their stake in the franchise.
Sources add that Pushkar is unlikely to be questioned. On Sunday, Pushkar announced that she voluntarily surrendering the 70-crore sweat equity gifted to her by Rendezvous. Her lawyer denied that her decision was latched to the pressure on Tharoor to quit the government. However, political analysts say Pushkar's gesture was aimed at winning a reprieve for Tharoor.
The owners of other IPL teams are likely to be questioned next week.
The inquiry ordered by the government will also look at the bids and auction of players in the IPL. In addition, foreign exchange violations will also be examined.
Now, income tax officials confirm that their first stop is the controversial Kochi consortium led by Rendezvous Sports World, which won its team for 1530 crores. It's this group, and its link with Shashi Tharoor and his girlfriend, Sunanda Pushkar, that forced the minister to resign on Sunday.
The group includes the Gaikwad family of Solapur; Shailendra Gaikwad was the consortium's CEO till he was asked to step down a few days after the battle between IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and Shashi Tharoor erupted on twitter.
Sources say income tax officials in Pune are questioning the Gaikwad family, known to be close to several leading cricketers, about its source of funds. Other members of the consortium will also have to explain how they're bankrolling their stake in the franchise.
Sources add that Pushkar is unlikely to be questioned. On Sunday, Pushkar announced that she voluntarily surrendering the 70-crore sweat equity gifted to her by Rendezvous. Her lawyer denied that her decision was latched to the pressure on Tharoor to quit the government. However, political analysts say Pushkar's gesture was aimed at winning a reprieve for Tharoor.
The owners of other IPL teams are likely to be questioned next week.
The inquiry ordered by the government will also look at the bids and auction of players in the IPL. In addition, foreign exchange violations will also be examined.
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