MUMBAI: The mobile phone controversy involving Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder has escalated.On Monday, as part of its investigation, the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit served a notice to Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder for using a mobile phone in the team dugout during RR’s IPL-2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati last Friday. Bhinder has been asked to give an explanation to the BCCI’s ACU in 48 hours. On the BCCI’s official website, the concerned clause regarding the PMOA protocol states, “the team manager may use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout.”“The BCCI’s Anti-corruption Unit has launched an investigation into the matter. The ACU has asked Romi Bhinder for an explanation on whether he took the mobile to an undesignated area. As per the protocol, the team manager and team doctor are allowed to carry their mobiles during the match. However, we are trying to verify if any protocols were breached or any violations were committed by him, and whether he took it to an area where he was not supposed to take it to. It’s a fact-finding exercise,” BCCI secretary Debajit Saikia told TOI on Monday.The scrutiny on Bhinder intensified after RR opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, seated beside him, was seen glancing at the phone in the viral clip.
