Delhi court orders fresh probe against Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir in cheating case

Delhi court orders fresh investigation into Gautam Gambhir's alleged role in cheating case involving flat buyers.

Directing a fresh investigation, a Delhi court has set aside the discharge of former cricketer and current head coach of the Indian cricket team Gautam Gambhir, and others in a case where flat buyers were reportedly cheated.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne set aside a magisterial court order, saying it reflected "inadequate expression of mind" in deciding the allegations against Mr. Gambhir.

"The allegations also merit further investigation into the role of Gautam Gambhir," Judge Gogne wrote in his October 29 order.

An alleged cheating case was filed against real estate firms Rudra Buildwell Realty Pvt. Ltd, H R Infracity Pvt Ltd., U M Architectures and Contractors Ltd., and Gambhir, who was a director and brand ambassador of the companies' joint venture.

The judge noted Mr. Gambhir was the only accused who had a "direct interface with the investors" in his capacity as a brand ambassador and though he had been discharged, the magisterial court's order made no reference to him paying ₹6 crore to Rudra Buildwell Realty Pvt. Ltd and receiving ₹4.85 crore from the company.

"The chargesheet did not clarify whether the amounts paid back to him by Rudra had any nexus or were sourced from the funds received from the investors in the project in question. Since the core of the allegations pertains to the offence of cheating, it was required to be clarified by the chargesheet and also by the impugned order whether any component of the cheated amount(s) came to the hand of Mr. Gambhir," the judge said.

The court observed Mr. Gambhir had had financial transactions with the company beyond his role as a brand ambassador and was an additional director between June 29, 2011, and October 1, 2013, adding "Thus, he was an office bearer when the project was advertised."