In a big relief for Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid, BCCI ethics officer D K Jain on Thursday dismissed the conflict of interest complaint against him, saying it was “bereft of any merit”.

“I am convinced that on facts at hands, a case of conflict of interest as enshrined is the Rules is not made out. Resultantly, the complaint is dismissed being bereft of any merit,” read Thursday’s order which is in possession of PTI.

The 46-year-old former India captain had earlier explained his case in a personal hearing held in Mumbai on September 26.Dravid is currently the NCA Director in Bengaluru besides being a vice-president in the India Cements group, which owns the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.

He was also the head coach of the India A and Under-19 teams before being handed the NCA role, which includes monitoring the progress of these two sides as well.

As per Rule 38 (4) of BCCI constitution, no individual can hold more than one post at the same time. However, in Dravid’s case the ethics officer has interpreted the rule a bit differently while in the order passed in June, Jain had found Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman conflicted for holding multiple posts.

“To put it differently, for examining an instance of “conflict of interest’‘, mere holding of posts by an individual associated with the BCCI, as identified in Sub-rule (4) of Rule 38 of the Rules, may not per-se be sufficient for arriving at the conclusion of existence of “conflict of interest”.

“But whether holding of such post(s) gives rise to “conflict of interest” or not must also be tested on the anvil of reasonable apprehensions of, or actual favoritism, lack of objectivity, bias, benefits, etc., as contemplated in the definition of “conflict of interest” in Rulel(A)(g) of the Rules,” read the order.

While cricket fraternity would welcome the ruling in favour of Dravid, conflict of interest is one of the most contentious issues facing Indian cricket.

Before demitting the office, the CoA, in its 11th and final status report submitted to the Supreme Court, had recommended some key amendments to a “straight-jacketed” conflict of interest clause in the BCCI constitution.