Mumbai: Vivo mobiles advertisements featuring Virat Kohli have been put on hold for the time being.
No, it’s not related to the lean patch of the former Team India captain, who had another flop show in the second T20 International against England today, falling for just 1.
According to an Economic Times report, the ads have been pulled from TV and social media because of an ongoing money-laundering investigation by Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the Chinese smartphone company.
Planned promotional activities involving Kohli have been put on hold pending completion of the probe, a company executive privy to the development told ET.
The move was also to protect Kohli from criticism.
Neither Vivo nor Cornerstone Sport, the talent management firm which manages Kohli’s portfolio, has responded to queries yet.
Vivo has moved Delhi High Court, challenging ED’s decision to freeze 199 bank accounts linked to the company.
The ED has claimed that Vivo India remitted about 50% — Rs 62,476 crore — worth of revenues to China, reducing its taxable income in India.
ED has seized funds worth Rs 465 crore, Rs 73 lakh in cash and 2 kg gold under anti-money laundering law.
