Former India Cricketer Booked Under Fraud Charges

Rajesh Chauhan, Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju in frame | PC- X.com/@nagh_siva

A former Indian cricketer has been booked in Odisha for allegedly cheating a man for more than INR 15 lakh, as per police. 

The case for fraud has been registered in Mohan Nagar police station on the directions of a local court in Chhattisgarh's Durg district under Section 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) on Friday (July 24).

Rajesh Chauhan booked in an INR 15 lakhs fraud case

Former India and Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan has allegedly been booked for acquiring INR 15.1 lakhs from a man named Dinkar Vishwamitra by promising him a transport contract with a steel company named Jindal Steel. 

The case has been taken to a local court, which believes the former cricketer has dishonestly obtained money by allegedly cheating the complainant, warranting a police investigation.

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As per the complainant, Chauhan had promised him substantial profits if he invested in the transport business as a partner. Later, Vishwamitra signed an agreement with Chauhan’s firm, Govind Transport Company, in July 2021. 

The complainant apparently paid the cricketer INR 2.51 lakh through a cheque initially, before transferring the rest of the amount, i.e. INR 12 lakh, into his firm’s bank account.

"The matter is under investigation. Further action will be taken based on the findings," Mohan Nagar Police Station Officer Keshav Kosale said.

“The court has asked the Durg police to conduct an investigation into the allegation against the former Indian Cricketer in some transport related fraud. We will submit the report following which the court will give the instruction to the police in the given complaint”, Vijay Agrawal, Durg senior superintendent of police told TNIE.

How Rajesh Chauhan allegedly lured the complainant?

In an order dated July 16, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Aishwarya Diwan allowed an application filed by complainant Dinkar Vishwamitra under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) against former cricketer Rajesh Chauhan, who allegedly lured the complainant, stating he had connections with leading industrialists. 

Furthermore, Chauhan had promised the complainant a contract from Jindal Steel in Odisha's Keonjhar district for transportation of iron ore and lumps.

Vishwamitra allegedly showed the complainant work order documents purportedly issued in favour of Govind Transport Company, the application submitted in the court stated.

Rajesh Chauhan's cricketing career before getting into business

Born in Bihar, Rajesh Chauhan played domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh, with his career ranging from 1988/89 to 2000/01. In 1993, the off-spinner made his international debut against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens.

In his international career spanning five years, Chauhan played 21 Tests and 35 ODI matches, taking 76 wickets. However, in a prolific professional career, he played nearly 100 First-Class and as many List-A games, bagging over 400 wickets in domestic cricket. 

However, after ending his career in 2000/01, the 59-year-old chose business in the second innings of his life.

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