Former India Cricketer Rajesh Chauhan Faces Fraud FIR Over Fictitious Steel Contract
Police have booked former international bowler Rajesh Chauhan following allegations of a 15-lakh rupee transport scam. The investigation follows a court order after the complainant claimed he was misled by forged business documents.
Legal Proceedings Initiated in Chhattisgarh
Former Indian international cricketer Rajesh Chauhan is the subject of a First Information Report (FIR) following allegations of a financial scam exceeding 15 lakh rupees. The Mohan Nagar police station registered the case on Friday under Section 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to criminal breach of trust. Station House Officer Keshav Kosale confirmed the investigation is active and that subsequent steps will depend on the evidentiary findings.
Fabricated Contracts and Financial Misrepresentations
The legal action stems from a complaint by Dinkar Vishwamitra, who alleges that Chauhan leveraged his celebrity status to orchestrate a fraudulent business deal. According to the court filing, Chauhan presented himself as a well-connected ex-athlete whose firm, Govind Transport Company, had purportedly secured an iron ore transport contract from Jindal Steel in Keonjhar, Odisha. To solidify the deception, the complainant claims Chauhan presented falsified work orders to solicit investment.
- Investment Value: The complainant allegedly transferred a total of 15.01 lakh rupees in two installments.
- Initial Agreement: A formal agreement was signed on July 30, 2021, accompanied by an initial cheque payment of 2.51 lakh rupees.
- Discovery of Fraud: Vishwamitra eventually contacted Jindal Steel Limited directly, discovering that neither Chauhan nor his company held any valid contracts with the firm.
Judicial Intervention and Defense Response
The case shifted to the police only after Judicial Magistrate First Class Aishwarya Diwan intervened. The court granted an application under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), noting that local authorities had failed to act on previous written complaints to the Durg Superintendent of Police. The magistrate observed that the evidence prima facie suggests Chauhan dishonestly obtained funds through deception.
Chauhan, however, characterizes the situation differently. In a previous statement to PTI, the former spinner described the incident as a private business dispute. He acknowledged that while some funds were returned to the complainant, his personal circumstances caused delays in settling the remaining balance.
Source: NDTV Trending
