Planned activities and promotional activities involving Virat Kohli have been suspended until it is known where the investigation is heading, an unnamed official with knowledge of the development said, according to the report.
The report further quotes another executive who said Kohli’s team was also uncomfortable with advertisements depicting the former captain of the Indian cricket team while the investigation was ongoing. “It’s also to protect Virat from criticism,” the executive said.
The report further mentions that neither Vivo nor Cornerstone Sport, the talent management team that manages Kohli’s portfolio, responded to questions until press time.
Industry insiders said pausing was “the logical option” at this time.
Vivo recently appealed to the Delhi High Court, challenging the Law Enforcement Directorate’s (DE) decision to freeze 199 bank accounts linked to the company as part of a money laundering investigation.
The central agency has also filed a money laundering complaint, learning of a recent Delhi Police FIR (economic crimes wing) against an agency distributor based in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that some Chinese shareholders had forged identity documents to register the company.
