Lalit Modi Maintains Silence over allegations of fraud and corruption
The suspended commissioner of the multi-billion dollar Indian Premier League Lalit Modi has maintained his silence over the allegations of fraud and corruption which led to his suspension last week.
Lalit Modi has been suspended for his possible role in alleged corruption in the world's richest cricket tournament. Modi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday but refused to answer the questions put forward by the reporters to gathered at the airport. Modi refused to give any comment on the reasons behind his visit either. "I am not ready to give you anything, why you are pushing me," he replied when asked by reporters about his visit.
Media reports suggest that the beleaguered Modi landed in Delhi to seek legal opinion on the show cause notice issued to him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Lalit Modi, considered one of the most powerful cricket administrators in the world was in a rude shock when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended him, claiming that he has to be put away for fair investigation in the money laundering and financial bungling rumors’ that have jeopardized the future of the IPL cash bonanza.
The government has launched a tax investigation into the financing of the USD 4.1 billion sports franchise, besides detailed investigations are underway in the acquisition of the other franchises that became a part of the league upon its inception in 2008.
Modi is believed to have had strong links with some of the franchises, and apparently made a fortune out of the deals which led to the formation of Kolkata Knight Riders, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals. Besides the financial scam, rumours of match fixing are also doing the rounds, further tarnishing the image of the league.
The scandal has already claimed the scalp of Shashi Tharoor, who resigned after Modi said he used his political muscle to influence a bid for his Kochi team that was inducted in the league this year, and is set to join the other nine franchises next year. The scandal around the Kochi team, and the leakage of documents did not go down well with the Indian government as it felt the controversy rallied opposition against the government.
Modi was suspended just after the finals of the third edition of the IPL ended on Sunday, with the Chennai Super Kings outplaying the Mumbai Indians in the final to win the title for the first time. Besides the financial ruckus the IPL season three was also marked with security breaches, which led to the bombings outside the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore, which forced the organizers to shift the semi finals of the event to Mumbai.
The coming few days are going to be crucial for Modi and the BCCI, as many believe that without Lalit Modi the brainchild behind the league, the extravaganza would not be the same. But for the league to continue, it has to first cleanse itself of the tainted reputation it acquired due to the financial mishap.
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