A Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district has directed the police to investigate former India off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan in connection with an alleged fraud involving more than ₹1.5 million (₹15 lakh). Acting on an application filed under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the court instructed the Durg police to conduct a lawful investigation and submit a final report. The case is currently at the investigation stage, and the court has not made any finding on the merits of the allegations.
The complaint relates to an alleged financial fraud involving a transport business partnership. Complainant Dinkar Vishwamitra alleged that he was introduced to Rajesh Chauhan through a mutual acquaintance, Saroj Kumar. According to the complaint, Chauhan claimed that his company, Govind Transport Company, had secured a contract to transport iron ore and other materials for Jindal Steel Limited in Keonjhar, Odisha.
The complainant alleged that Chauhan promised substantial profits from the venture and persuaded him to join the business by arranging trucks for the operations. To establish credibility, Chauhan allegedly showed fabricated work orders, contract papers and other official-looking documents, leading the complainant to believe that the project was genuine.
According to the complainant’s counsel, Saurabh Chaubey, a formal agreement was signed between the parties on July 30, 2021. The complainant initially paid ₹251,000 (₹2.51 lakh) and subsequently transferred a total of ₹1.501 million (₹15.01 lakh) to the bank account of Govind Transport Company in two separate instalments. The complaint alleges that neither the promised business returns were delivered nor was the money refunded.
After examining the complaint and the documents placed on record, the court observed that there were sufficient grounds warranting an investigation. It noted that the allegations raised the possibility of unlawful financial gain under the guise of a business transaction and directed the police to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter, including scrutiny of the relevant documents and financial transactions.
Responding to the court’s order, the Durg Senior Superintendent of Police said the police would investigate the allegations in accordance with the court’s directions. Upon completion of the inquiry, a final report will be submitted to the court, which will determine the next course of legal proceedings.
At present, none of the allegations have been judicially established. The court has merely ordered an investigation, and the findings will depend on the evidence, documents, financial records and witness statements collected during the probe. Any further legal action will be based on the outcome of the investigation.
Rajesh Chauhan represented India as an off-spin bowler during the 1990s. He played 21 Test matches, claiming 47 wickets, and also represented the country in 35 One Day Internationals (ODIs). Following his retirement from international cricket, he became associated with various business ventures. The case will now proceed through the legal process, and the investigation report will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support the allegations made in the complaint.
