The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is facing serious scrutiny after a massive financial scandal erupted within its ownership group. The spotlight is now on Kalanithi Maran, Chairman of Sun TV Network
the parent company of SRH who stands accused of fraud, cheating, and large-scale money laundering by none other than his brother, Dayanidhi Maran, a former Union Minister and DMK MP. This isn’t just a personal family fallout the allegations could ripple into the IPL ecosystem itself.
What Are the Allegations?
According to a legal notice dated June 10, 2025, Dayanidhi Maran alleges that:
- Kalanithi Maran illegally altered the shareholding structure of Sun TV while their father, Murasoli Maran, was critically ill in 2003.
- Shares worth ₹2,500–₹3,000 each were allegedly allotted at ₹10 to Kalanithi, resulting in a massive financial loss to other family members.
- Dayanidhi estimates a loss of ₹3,498.8 crore due to this manipulation.
He has demanded that all such shares and assets be restored to the original stakeholders as per the 2003 structure.
IPL Team Allegedly Used in the Scam?
The most explosive claim: Dayanidhi alleges that proceeds from this financial manipulation were funneled into acquiring various assets including Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The notice claims Sun TV used “proceeds of crime” to invest in or acquire
- SRH (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
- Sun Direct TV
- Kal Airways
- SpiceJet
- Multiple FM channels and film companies
If proven, this would indicate that SRH’s very foundation may have been built on illegal financial transactions something that BCCI and even central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot afford to ignore.
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Legal Action Incoming?
The notice also accuses Kalanithi of misleading regulators in Sun TV’s 2006 Red Herring Prospectus, which claimed false dividend payments to their mother. Dayanidhi has now demanded a probe by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and warned of legal action unless restitution is made.
Notably, this isn’t the first intra-family legal battle in the Maran household. However, it is the first time the SRH IPL franchise has been directly named in connection to financial wrongdoing.
What Does This Mean for SRH and the IPL?
As of now no official comment has been made by Kalanithi or Kavya Maran, the SRH CEO and daughter of Kalanithi. BCCI has not yet issued a formal response, but sources say the matter is being “closely monitored.” If financial irregularities are proven and connected to the IPL team’s ownership, SRH could face severe consequences, including:
- Temporary suspension
- Ownership restructuring
- Disqualification from IPL 2026
This would be a first in IPL history a team potentially penalized for non-cricketing corporate fraud.
What’s Next?
Given the high-profile nature of the case and the involvement of a sitting MP, multiple watchdogs including SEBI, ED, SFIO, and the BCCI Ethics Committee may get involved.
If investigations proceed, we could be looking at:
- Freezing of SRH-related assets
- Shareholding transparency audits
- IPL governance reforms for ownership vetting
Final Word
The IPL has witnessed its share of controversies from spot-fixing to betting scandals but this could be the first time an ownership-level corporate war threatens the credibility of an entire franchise.
With Dayanidhi Maran pulling out decade-old documents and BCCI silence growing louder, one thing is clear,this is no longer just a family matter. It’s an IPL crisis waiting to explode.
Written by RITESH SINGH
