Former Indian cricketer Rajesh Chauhan booked for ₹15 lakh transport contract cheating case

Former India cricketer Rajesh Chauhan has been booked for allegedly cheating a man of more than ₹15 lakh by promising him a transport contract with a steel company. According to the police, the complaint was filed after the victim claimed he was misled with the promise of getting the contract.

An FIR was registered at Mohan Nagar Police Station on Friday following directions from a local court. The case has been filed under Section 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with criminal breach of trust. Police confirmed that the complaint is now under investigation.

Station House Officer Keshav Kosale said the investigation is underway and further action will be taken based on the findings. The police are examining the allegations and collecting evidence before taking the next legal steps in the case.

FIR registered against ex-India off-spinner after court orders Police probe in Chhattisgarh

A court in Chhattisgarh ordered the police to investigate the cheating allegations against former India off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan. Following the order of Judicial Magistrate First Class Aishwarya Diwan, Mohan Nagar Police registered an FIR and started the investigation. Police said the matter is under investigation, and further action will be taken based on the findings.

According to the complaint filed by Dinkar Vishwamitra, Chauhan introduced himself as a former international cricketer with strong connections to leading industrialists. He allegedly claimed that his firm, Govind Transport Company, had secured a transport contract from Jindal Steel in Odisha's Keonjhar district. Chauhan also allegedly promised good profits and convinced the complainant to invest in the business.

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The complainant said he trusted the documents shown by Chauhan and first paid ₹2.51 lakh by cheque. He later transferred another ₹15.01 lakh in two instalments to the company's bank account. However, after contacting Jindal Steel, he allegedly found that neither Chauhan nor his company had received any transport contract, and the documents shown to him were claimed to be forged.

Who is Rajesh Chauhan? A brief look at his cricket career

Rajesh Chauhan is a former Indian off-spinner who represented India in 21 Test matches and 35 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1993 and 1998. He was part of India's famous spin trio alongside Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju during the 1990s. Chauhan was known for his disciplined off-spin and played an important role in India's bowling attack during that period.

One of the most memorable moments of Chauhan's career came in 1997 when he hit a match-winning six off Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq in Karachi. India won the thrilling match by four wickets, and the shot remains one of the most iconic moments of his international career. Interestingly, India did not lose any of the 21 Test matches in which Chauhan played.

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In his international career, Chauhan took 47 wickets in 21 Tests and 29 wickets in 35 ODIs. His best bowling figures in Test cricket were 4/48, while his best ODI figures were 3/29. Although his batting record was modest, he made valuable contributions whenever needed and remains remembered as a dependable member of India's spin attack in the 1990s.

Investigation underway as police prepare to submit report to court — Chauhan yet to respond

According to the complaint, Dinkar Vishwamitra later contacted Jindal Steel and discovered that neither Rajesh Chauhan nor his firm had been awarded the transport contract. He also alleged that the documents shown to him were forged. After receiving no satisfactory response from Chauhan, Vishwamitra filed written complaints with the police but claimed no FIR was registered.

The complainant then approached the court under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). After examining the complaint and the documents, the court observed that a cognisable offence appeared to have been committed. It also noted that there was prima facie evidence suggesting Chauhan had dishonestly obtained money from the complainant and directed the police to investigate the matter.

The police have now registered an FIR and started their investigation. A final report will be submitted to the court after the probe is completed. Chauhan has not responded to the latest developments, although he had earlier told PTI that the matter was a business dispute and that part of the money had already been returned, while the remaining amount was delayed due to personal reasons.