All-Stars cricket promoter says Warnie’s death left him helpless as businesses went under
A poker player and cricket promoter who shared business interests with Shane Warne and once hosted T20 charity matches featuring an all-star line-up is facing allegations he engaged in tax fraud and owes $14 million to the Tax Office.
But Rajkumar “Raj” Ramakrishnan claims he has been left in a “helpless position” to defend himself because of the death of the cricket great in 2022.
Shane Warne died of a heart attack in Thailand in 2022.Credit: Getty Images
Ramakrishnan is the sole director of three Australian companies that have fallen into liquidation as a result of tax debts in the past 10 months.
Liquidator Jason Porter from SV Partners, who was appointed to two of Ramakrishnan’s local companies – Global Trade Partners and One World Group Down Under – alleges in separate liquidator’s reports that there are suspicions Ramakrishnan had engaged in tax fraud.
A third company where Ramakrishnan was the sole director – Cricket Superstars – was also in liquidation earlier this year, owing the Australian Taxation Office close to $8 million. The liquidator of that business, David Coyne from BRI Ferrier, made no allegation of tax fraud in his report.
Cricket Superstars’ records filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission list Warne and fellow cricket legend MS Dhoni as shareholders.
Rajkumar “Raj” Ramakrishnan and Warne at a Cricket All-Stars game at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, in 2015.
The liquidator’s report from May 31 describes Cricket Superstars as operating a sports promotion business that organised charity dinners and T20 events. The report added that Ramakrishnan was yet to provide the company’s books and records.
When contacted by this masthead this week, Ramakrishnan sent 55 screenshots that appeared to show himself and Warne discussing in April 2019 a plan for Cricket Superstars to run three charity matches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah later that year. No games were ever played, due to scheduling conflicts.
Messages between an account appearing to belong to Shane Warne and Raj Ramakrishnan discussing an All-Stars cricket tournament in 2019.
The messages appear to show that Warne was keenly interested in planning the games, including offering to approach star players, trying to find appropriate dates for the games and approving a new logo.
“I am now in a helpless position because the only person who knows everything is not with us,” Ramakrishnan said.
The screenshots appear to show a lively chat between Ramakrishnan and Warne about the shape of the potential tournament. In one, Ramakrishnan says: “I’m very excited with the response. We will make it a big success.”
An account appearing to belong to Warne replies: “Has to be big mate! Everyone is keen especially AB! Ganguly messaged me too. He said he will let me know in next 48 hours. We have to do this Raj, as I’ve made a commitment to everyone that it’s happening.”
In another message, the account appearing to belong to Warne says: “I will ask Ed Sheeran and Chris Martin if they can toss the coin and maybe do a private gig for 200 people!”
While in another message, the account appearing to belong to Warne says he has to shift back the date of the event, explaining: “It’s my daughter’s 18th birthday on Oct 12.”
Messages from an account appearing to belong to Shane Warne to Raj Ramakrishnan discussing an all-star cricket tournament in 2019.
In 2015, Ramakrishnan staged three All-Stars games featuring cricket greats – including Warne and Sachin Tendulkar – in the US.
The liquidator to Ramakrishnan’s Global Trade Partners and One World Group Down Under alleges the businesses owe $6.5 million to the ATO after the Tax Office scrapped deductions amid suspicions of tax fraud.
“The director may have conducted a tax fraud by lodging false Business Activity Statements and returns and has failed to ensure the company maintained its statutory taxation lodgments. The ATO has advised it conducted an audit and reversed most returns lodged by the company on its running balance account due to suspected tax fraud,” Porter’s report on Global Trade Partners said.
“In addition, it appears the director obtained a financial advantage by deception as company funds were used for the director’s personal expenses such as gambling and cash withdrawals.”
Porter made similar allegations in his liquidator’s report about One World Group Down Under.
“Due to the lack of books and records, my preliminary investigations into voidable transactions have been hampered, however, as per my analysis of the Business Activity Statements lodged, the company has recorded large expenses and purchases which appears to be a tax fraud,” the document states.
A spokesman for SV Partners said this week: “Investigations are ongoing and, as the matter is currently in progress, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.” BRI Ferrier also declined to comment due to ongoing investigations.
To date, the ATO has taken no court action against Ramakrishnan as an individual.
This masthead sought clarification from an executor to Warne’s estate, his former manager and the organisation operated by his former personal assistant. This masthead was unable to contact Dhoni.
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