Legal trouble for former India cricketer, booked over transport contract fraud case

Former Indian cricketer Rajesh Chauhan is facing legal trouble after an FIR was registered against him for allegedly defrauding a man of more than Rs 15 lakh. According to the police, Chauhan purportedly promised to secure a lucrative transport contract for the victim with a prominent steel firm before reneging on the deal.

Rajesh Chauhan under investigation over fake transport contract claims

The action comes after an order issued by Judicial Magistrate First Class Aishwarya Diwan, who approved an application submitted by complainant Dinkar Vishwamitra. Following the court's directive, the Mohan Nagar police station formally lodged the case under Section 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to criminal breach of trust.

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Station House Officer Keshav Kosale confirmed that an investigation into the allegations is currently underway. Authorities will gather evidence and determine their next course of action based on the findings before submitting a final report to the court as mandated.

According to the complaint, Rajesh Chauhan used his status as an ex-international athlete and his purported ties to prominent industrialists to build trust. He claimed his firm, Govind Transport Company, had bagged a lucrative contract with Jindal Steel in Keonjhar, Odisha, to haul iron ore. Promising significant returns, Chauhan persuaded the complainant, Dinkar Vishwamitra, to join as a partner by deploying trucks and investing capital, supporting his claims with official-looking work orders.

Relying on those documents, Vishwamitra signed a formal partnership agreement on July 30, 2021. He initially handed over ₹2.51 lakh via cheque, followed by two subsequent transfers totaling ₹15.01 lakh into the company’s bank account. However, when Chauhan became evasive, Vishwamitra reached out directly to Jindal Steel Limited, only to discover that no such contract existed and the documents shown to him were completely forged.

When initial complaints to the local police and the Durg Superintendent of Police yielded no action, Vishwamitra turned to the judiciary. Reviewing the evidence, the court concluded that a cognizable offense had taken place, criticized the initial police inaction, and noted a clear prima facie case of financial deception that required a thorough investigation.

Responding to the allegations earlier, Chauhan framed the situation as a commercial conflict rather than a criminal scam. He stated that a portion of the money had already been refunded to the complainant, attributing delays in settling the remaining balance to personal hardships.