Margao: While refusing to provide details of how much the club Edomont Royals were purchased for, its promoter Vilas Desai rubbished the allegation of money laundering, through the club.
Addressing a press conference in Margao, Desai, after asking repeatedly refused to divulge exact amount that was paid to buy out the international cricket club which played the Canada tournament.
Desai claimed that Chandrakant Appasaheb Bhoje Patil who has been under scanner as per the claims of Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte was associated with the club for “marketing” purpose. He said that he never knew Bhoje Patil till he came to the office with the offer of marketing the team.
Desai also ruled out that there is any investment of Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar in his club, but at the same time, admitted that he had taken Tendulkar and PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar for launching of the jersey of the club.
“I forced them to come on the stage during the function,” he said.
He claimed that not a single politician has investment in the club.
Desai said that Khaunte was upset as he wanted to buy the club, which could not be done by him.
When asked about Kapil Jhaveri, Desai said that he had met him just once, that too in “Taj Vivanta Hotel” in Panaji. He refused that he has shot any picture with Jhaveri.
