Reports: Ganguly to step down as Mohun Bagan director to avoid conflict of interest

In what can be called a major development, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has decided to step down as director of ATK Mohun Bagan in order to avoid the conflict of interest. The Indian Super League (ISL) club is owned by Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Ventures Ltd, which recently became the owner of one of the two Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. The group bid a record INR 7,090 crore (USD 940 million approximately) to buy the Lucknow franchise.

With RPSG being a part of IPL now, Ganguly has reportedly initiated the process of standing down from his role at the football club. Notably, Mohun Bagan is one of the most venerable and popular clubs in Indian football. Alongside being the director of the ISL club, Ganguly is also a shareholder. However, he won’t be associated with Mohun Bagan as its owners are part of IPL as well.

The major report was carried out by ESPNcricinfo. It also states Ganguly will step aside from the role at Mohun Bagan for as long as he is the BCCI president, to avoid conflict. Notably, RPSG vice-president Sanjiv Goenka had recently said that Ganguly might end his ties with the football team.

Sanjiv Goenka had talked about Sourav Ganguly cutting off ties with Mohun Bagan

“Well, I think he is going to step down from Mohun Bagan completely… I think today,” Goenka told the business television network. It is for Sourav to make the announcement. I mean, sorry. I think I pre-empted it,” Goenka told CNBC-TV 18 on Monday (October 25). Had Ganguly decided to serve both BCCI and Mohun Bagan simultaneously, he would have violated ‘direct or indirect interest’ conflict rule under the BCCI constitution.

“When the BCCI, a Member, the IPL or a Franchisee 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 as individual’s participation, performance and discharge of roles,” states the rule.

It has to be noted that Ganguly has gotten involved in a conflict of interest issue before. Back in 2019, Ganguly and his former teammate came under the scanner for holding multiple posts in Indian cricket. At that time, the former Indian captain was president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), advisor of IPL team Delhi Capitals, and was also working as a commentator.