BCCI-appointed Ombudsman Justice (Retired) AP Shah on Wednesday threw out all allegations of conflict of interest against Sourav Ganguly, former India captain, and disposed of the application filed by one Niraj Gunde in this regard. The Ombudsman considered Gunde's application and the various submissions made, including the ones from Ganguly as well as Board of Control for Cricket in India, and found that none of the conflict of interest rules could be applied to the case. "The Ombudsman is of the view that no case of conflict of interest has been established or made out against Mr Ganguly, and therefore, the matter is accordingly disposed of," Justice Shah says in his order dated February 17, 2016. Gunde had alleged that Ganguly is co-owner of a company named Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd., which owns the ISL franchise Atletico de Kolkata. The company is allegedly co-owned by Ganguly, along with businessmen associated with the RPG Group, which successfully bid for IPL's Pune franchise. He also alleged that Ganguly, who is also a member of the IPL Governing Council, and the RPG group were partners in another commercial venture at the time of the bid for the Pune franchise being made, which was allegedly not disclosed. In his reply to the Ombudsman's query, Ganguly admitted to being a partner (with a 6.67% share) in Catch 22 Informatics LLP, a limited liability partner ship, which has a 75% stake in Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt.Ltd. Ganguly claimed to have a 5% share in Kolkata Games and Sports Pvt. Ltd. He further stated that he has no interest or stake in, or connection with New Rising Promoters Pvt. Ltd., which was the company that successfully bid for IPL's Pune franchise. Ganguly also contended that on the day of the IPL bidding process on December 8, 2015, sealed bids (containing both financial and technical bids) were submitted by various bidders for the two IPL teams. Of these, the technical bids were opened first by the lawyers appointed by the BCCI, in the presence of all the bidders. Ganguly maintained that he reached the venue in New Delhi (from London) only after the technical bids had been opened, and as such had no role in the whole process. The BCCI, on its part, corroborated Ganguly's version in its reply to the Ombudsman. Gunde was then given a chance to respond to the replies filed by Ganguly and the BCCI. According to the Ombudsman, Gunde again contended hat not only had Ganguly failed to disclose his relationship with he promoters of the new IPL team to the BCCI but also, as a member of the IPL Governing Council, which approved these bids, could have been aware of he contents of the bids. After duly considering every aspect, including whether there could be a possible conflict of interest beyond what is framed in the rules, the Ombudsman felt that given the fact that the entire bidding process took place on the same day in the presence of all the bidders, the members of the IPL Governing Council had no role to play in it and thereby gave Ganguly a clean chit.