IPL 2025: Preity Zinta files lawsuit against PBKS co-owners over breach of Companies Act

An internal spat has come to the fore in the Punjab Kings owners, as Preity Zinta has filed lawsuit against co-owners Mohit Burman and Ness Wadia. Zinta has accused the duo of illegally conducting an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) at KPH Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd. - the parent firm of the popular Indian Premier League franchise.

Zinta, who is also a popular Bollywood actress, has claimed that the meet was convened and conducted by violating the provisions of the Indian Companies Act, 2013 and the Secretarial Standards under the governing laws related thereto. Now, the Chandigarh District Court has issued a notice to Wadia and Burman with the initial hearing scheduled on May 27, 2025.

The company that owns the Punjab franchise is KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited. Zinta, who herself is a 23 percent share holder in the company and one of the co-directors of the company along with Wadia and Burman has claimed that the EGM was convened and conducted in violation of the Companies ACT, 2013, and secretarial standards. The Chandigah District court has issued a notice to the organisation and the co-directors with hearing to scheduled on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. 

The 50-year-old is being represented by advocate Sangram Singh Saron and has claimed that the meeting was conducted unlawfully by Burman with the support of Wadia despite her objection which was expressed through an email on April 10. She has alleged that the meeting was held without adhering to the proper procedures, which also included the election of the chairperson.

Her decision to file a case has been explained through her petition in which she has claimed that she and fellow director Karan Paul had objected to the appointment of Ness Wadia as the chairperson, citing Principle 5.1 of Secretarial Standards, which requires the directors to elect themselves as a chairperson if none is pre-designated. Both Paul and Zinta had suggested appointing either of them, which resulted in a split vote among the four attending directors.

However, despite the deadlock, Wadia and Burman proceeded with the meeting and allegedly appointed Muneesh Khanna as an additional non-executive director, which Zinta claimed was a breach of the company’s Articles of Association as well as governance norms. She is also seeking an injunction restraining Khanna from acting as a director and wants a halt on any meetings being held without her and Paul.

It is worth noting that Preity Zinta is a 23 per cent owner in the shareholders books of the PBKS franchise. Further details in the case are currently awaited.