Mumbai: Former skipper Ravi Shastri deposed as witness before the five-member disciplinary committee of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in response to a complaint filed by batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar against his Chartered Accountant for charging exorbitant fees.

Shastri appeared before the committee on June 9 and spent 30 minutes to tender evidence. He has reportedly given evidence in favour of Tendulkar, institute sources said.

Two months back, Tendulkar had deposed before the committee with regard to his complaint.

Tendulkar is locked in a legal battle with his Chartered Accountant Madhav Bhatkhande who charged him Rs 42 lakh for managing his accounts since 1989 and offering taxation advice.

Bhatkhande had borrowed a loan of Rs 26 lakh from Tendulkar in 1996 but did not return the amount. Later, he served on Tendulkar a bill of Rs 42 lakh as fees due to him.

Tendulkar, however, refused to pay the balance amount of Rs 16 lakh, saying the fees was exorbitant.

Bhatkhande filed a suit against Tendulkar in Mumbai High Court for recovery of his fees while Sachin made a counter move by filing a complaint against his accountant with the institute.

PTI