India's governing body for motorsport (FMSCI) on Saturday rubbished reports that Gaurav Gill had misrepresented his achievements to the Arjuna Award selection committee.
Three-time three Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) winner Gill had become the first motorsport driver to be conferred the Arjuna award earlier this year.
However, according to a media report, there were inconsistency in his application that he submitted to the selection committee for Arjuna Awards consideration.
The report said Gill had claimed in his 13-page application, which was signed by FMSCI Secretary general Rajan Sayal, that he "won 11 stages of the World Rally Championship" in 2018 but the claim was dismissed by the World body FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile).
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"A malicious, motivated report on Gaurav Gill's Arjuna Award application is doing the rounds. Secretary-General, FMSCI denounces it in the strongest terms possible as it is meant to mislead people who don't understand motorsports," FMSCI wrote on its twitter handle.
"Gaurav's application categorically mentioned that he took part in the WRC2 category of the World Rally Championship in 2018. And yes, he won 11 stages in it."
Last year, The 37-year-old Indian had participated in four rallies, one each in Italy, Finland, Wales and Australia as an unregistered driver in World Rally Championship 2 and won 11 stages.
WRC2 is a second-tier competition. It is a companion rally series to the World Rally Championship, and is driven on the same stages.
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Last week, Gill and his navigator were booked on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder after their car rammed into a motorcycle during the National Rally Championship race in Rajasthan and killed a couple and their son.
