“I have never been involved in any wrongdoing and all allegations against me are false”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

India batsman Suresh Raina has rejected allegations by former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi that he received bribes from an Indian businessman.

In a statement issued by his management team Rhiti Sports, Raina made it clear that he had “never been involved in any wrongdoing” and was considering taking legal action against Modi.

“In the wake of recent media reports about me, I would like to make my fans around the world aware and clear the air that I have always played the game in right spirit and with utmost integrity,” the statement said. “I have never been involved in any wrongdoing and all allegations against me are false. Playing cricket is my passion for whichever team I have represented. I’m also figuring out my legal rights to take the right steps ahead in this matter.”

In a letter sent to International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson in October 2013, Modi claimed that Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo had accepted bribes and houses from an Indian businessman involved in real estate while they were playing for the Chennai Super Kings. Modi also insisted that the businessman who gave them the houses and money is a bookie.

Despite following up on Modi’s claims, the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has not found any evidence that supports his allegations.

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) having received no new information from the ICC, all three players have been given a “clean chit”.

“The follow-up is there is nothing in that,” BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said. “If they had found something, they would have reported it back to us. If there is nothing from the ICC on it, it has to be a clean chit.”