Preity Zinta Moves Court Against Punjab Kings Co-Owners Burman, Wadia
In a significant development in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Bollywood actress and Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Preity Zinta has approached the Chandigarh district court seeking to declare an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited, which owns the PBKS team, as illegal and invalid. According to a report by The Indian Express, Zinta filed a civil suit alleging that the EGM, held on April 21, 2025, was convened and conducted in violation of the Companies Act, 2013, and secretarial standards.
The court has issued notices to the respondents, including KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited and co-directors Mohit Burman and Ness Wadia. The matter is scheduled for hearing on May 27, where arguments on an interim injunction will be presented. Zinta, who holds a 23 per cent stake in the company and is one of the directors of KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited, claims that the EGM was conducted unlawfully by Burman, with the support of Wadia, despite her objections raised via email on April 10.
As per The Indian Express, Zinta’s petition states that when the meeting commenced, she and fellow director Karan Paul objected to the appointment of Ness Wadia as chairperson, citing Principle 5.1 of Secretarial Standards, which requires directors to elect a chairperson among themselves if none is pre-designated. Zinta and Paul suggested appointing either of them, leading to a split vote among the four attending directors. Despite the deadlock, Burman and Wadia proceeded with the meeting and allegedly appointed Muneesh Khanna as an additional non-executive director, which Zinta claims is a breach of the company’s Articles of Association as well as corporate governance norms.
Zinta’s advocate, Sangram Singh Saron, has argued that the EGM was conducted in violation of the Companies Act, 2013, and secretarial standards. The suit filed by Zinta seeks to prevent the company and the other directors from acting on any resolutions passed during the contested EGM. She also seeks an injunction restraining Khanna from acting as a director and wants a halt on any further board or general meetings without the participation of both her and Paul until the civil suit is pending before the Chandigarh court.
The development has significant implications for the PBKS team, which has been struggling to find consistency in the IPL. The team’s co-owners have been at loggerheads over various issues, and the dispute has now spilled over into the court. The Indian Express has reported that the court’s decision on the interim injunction will have a bearing on the team’s operations and decision-making.
The dispute between Zinta and her co-directors Burman and Wadia has highlighted the internal conflicts within the PBKS team. As per The Indian Express, Zinta has urged the court to intervene and prevent any further actions by the company and the other directors that could potentially harm the team’s interests. The court’s decision on May 27 will be crucial in determining the future course of the team and its operations.
In summary, Preity Zinta’s move to approach the Chandigarh district court against her co-directors Burman and Wadia has significant implications for the PBKS team. The dispute highlights the internal conflicts within the team and the need for a resolution to ensure the team’s stability and success in the IPL. As reported by The Indian Express, the court’s decision will have a bearing on the team’s operations and decision-making, and it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds in the coming days.
