New Delhi: Terming the Indian Premier League clean-up act “a conspiracy”, suspended Rajasthan Royals’ co-owner Raj Kundra on Wednesday said he had been “wronged” adding that he had never bet on any cricket matches.“I find it very unfair that the full team, the other owners, the management team, the players and the fans of Rajasthan Royals have been so harshly treated due to the alleged actions of one. However, I am just a minority stakeholder of 11.7 per cent,” Kundra said in a statement.
Later, in an interview when asked why were the Justice Mudgal Committee, the Justice Lodha Committee and the Delhi Police were against him and did he believe there was a conspiracy against him, he said, “100 per cent, I totally feel there is a conspiracy in this.” Kundra, along with Chennai Super Kings former official Gurunath Meiyappan, were banned for life from participating in all cricket-related activities by the Justice Lodha Committee.
“While I have great respect for the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the judicial system, unfortunately in this case I cannot but feel that I have been wronged,” he said.Kundra sought disclosure of the evidence that formed the basis of action against him, advocated that the entire Mudgal report be made public. “It didn’t take two minutes in spoiling my reputation overnight. If they can bring my name into the media, why don’t they open the envelope, why are they hiding it?” Kundra also called for legalising betting in the country.”When there is so much black money involved in betting, it would be ideal to legalise it in India. Let the money come to the government,” Kundra said, adding that he should not be branded the “bad boy of cricket”.
