Indian cricket board under investigation by tax authorities

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – The Indian cricket board  (BCCI) is under investigation for violating the country’s  foreign exchange laws, sports minister Ajay Maken said today.

The government was looking into alleged violations of the  Foreign Exchange Management Act amounting to some 10.77 billion  rupees ($206.7 million), Maken told the Indian parliament.

He said the investigation covered the ownership of  franchises and fund transfers without the permission of India’s  central bank and income tax department during the 2009 Indian  Premier League held in South Africa.

The BCCI moved the 2009 edition of the Twenty20 tournament  out of India due to lack of security cover during general  elections in the country.

BCCI’s chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty said the  body had yet to receive any official communication about the  investigation.

($1=52.1 rupees)