Sunanda Pushkar has denied selling her stakes to any outsider and stated that she has returned her shares to Rendezvous Sports World.
In reply to a question from this paper, Pushkar said in a message, “I’ve returned my shares to Rendezvous Sports World at the same cost at which I bought them.”
She did not, however, reveal at what cost she bought the shares or sold them for.
Reacting to a question on a report published in this paper about speculation that she may have sold her shares to a certain Dilip Kumar, Pushkar said she is disappointed by the report.
“I’ve not sold or pledged them to anyone else,” she remarked.
DNA had reported on July 26 about the speculation and also about Kumar, who has been giving mandates to sports agencies to seek sponsorship for the Kochi team of the IPL.
She also refused to answer queries about Kumar, who has emerged as the vice-chairman of the Rendezvous Sports World Pvt Ltd, one of the constituents of the Kochi consortium.
Meanwhile, reports in the Kerala media said that Kumar has acquired Rs 200 crore worth shares to become the vice-chairman of Rendezvous. The report also mentioned that an announcement to this effect will be made soon.
Pushkar, however, did not answer queries on Kumar. Pushkar was holding about 18 per cent sweat equity in Rendezvous Sports World Pvt Ltd, which owns 25 per cent shares in the consortium.
Kumar did not return calls from this paper. The reports mention him as a young civil engineer who holds a flat in Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building unveiled recently in Dubai. He is reportedly constructing a building in a posh area in Dubai.
Many Kochi firm officials refused to be drawn into the matter stating it is an inside issue of Rendezvous Sports World Pvt Ltd. Some claim that there is no change in the ownership pattern of the consortium.
When contacted, Kochi consortium’s CEO Keshav said a few things could be announced at a later date.
“At this stage I cannot comment on anything,” he said. When specifically asked about Kumar’s acquisition of
Rs200 crore in Rendezvous, Keshav said things will be announced later. He also refused to comment if there are any ownership changes in Rendezvous. Harshad Mehta is the chairman of the Kochi consortium.
