Popular cricket stars Shubman Gill, Sai Sudarshan, Rahul Tewatia, and Mohit Sharma have been summoned by the Gujarat CID in connection with a ₹450 crore chit-fund scam, according to a report by Ahmedabad Mirror. These Gujarat Titans players are reportedly involved as victims of the scam, orchestrated by Bhupendrasinh Zala, CEO of BZ Financial Services, BZ Traders, and BZ Group of Companies.
Zala allegedly lured investors with promises of high returns and prizes, collecting ₹6,000 crore through his fraudulent schemes. He set up offices across Gujarat, including Talod, Himmatnagar, and Vadodara, and activated a network of agents to solicit funds from unsuspecting investors. Financial transactions involving ICICI and IFC banks amounting to ₹175 crore were also linked to the scam. Zala has been labeled the ‘kingpin of Ponzi schemes’ by several reports.
The cricketers have been summoned as Zala reportedly failed to return the money they invested. According to CID officials, Shubman Gill, captain of the IPL team Gujarat Titans, invested ₹1.95 crore in the scheme, while others contributed smaller amounts. The players are expected to assist in the investigation as authorities attempt to retrieve the lost funds. They will be questioned based on their availability, as reported by Free Press Journal.
While no official confirmation has been made about the involvement of these players, this ongoing investigation has put a spotlight on the financial scam affecting prominent cricket figures. This piece highlights the unfolding controversy and its impact on Indian cricket.
Leave a Reply