Lalit Modi called to appear before BCCI meeting in IPL scandal
The Board of Control for Cricket http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 (BCCI) has asked Lalit Modi to appear before the board’s meeting which is planned to take place on the 16th of July. The move comes after Modi was suspended from his position as the IPL commissioner after various match-fixing and corruption scandals made their way into the electronic and print media of the country.
Quite recently, Lalit Modi has decided that enough is enough and is getting ready to take the legal route against the BCCI. Modi has gone to the Bombay High Court after requesting for a new disciplinary committee for his case. The former IPL commissioner requested for a mutually acceptable committee along with respectable and reputable individuals. Modi has also moved the court to recall BCCI’s suspension of Modi from the position of commissioner. Lalit Modi has serious reservations for the interim IPL chairman Chirayu Amin, who had sent a legal notice saying Chirayu holds personal grudges against him and should be removed from the disciplinary committee.
Modi, 46, is currently facing charges on account of rigging different bids, receiving kickbacks in return of broadcasting rights and holding proxy rights in different IPL teams. Modi was also charged of secretly planning a rebel league in England without the consent of the BCCI or the England and Wales cricket board. Modi created a stir in the Indian media hen he tweeted about having an ownership within the new IPL franchises. Modi in his Twitter message revealed that the girlfriend of junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor had free stakes in the new franchise. This message resulted in various investigations into the issue and forced Lalit Modi out of the commissionership.
Modi received a collective letter sent by the panel which read, "Members of the Disciplinary Committee of the BCCI are in receipt of a communication dated July 6 addressed to them by your solicitors Wadia Ghandy & Co. The issues raised in the said communication shall be considered by the Disciplinary Committee in its meeting/hearing on July 16, 2010 at the Cricket Centre. You (Modi) are requested to be present in person to address the Disciplinary Committee in the said issues after which the Members shall decide on the issues raised”.
Mehmmod Abdi is representing Lalit Modi on different legal cases. While talking to the media, he claimed that he along with Modi have not decided what action is to be taken with regards to this meeting. The lawyer said that they still had eight days to work out their strategy. Abdi said, “We haven't decided anything yet. We will take a call as we near the bridge. There are still eight good days to go”.
BCCI recently voted to ratify the charges against Modi and has referred the issue to the disciplinary committee. During the same meeting, BCCI President Manohar decided to rescue himself from the disciplinary committee since Modi believes Manohar will make a biased decision against him.
“The disciplinary committee will decide what action must be taken against Modi”, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shashank-Manohar-c89791 told the media.
Over the years, Lalit Modi had become the face of IPL. He managed three successful seasons of the league and was also part of the Champions trophy management which is played between domestic champions from seven test playing countries. Modi has also been suspended from the chairmanship of T20 Champions League.
BCCI meeting is scheduled for the 16th of July while Bombay High Court will hear Modi on the 14th of July for his petition against the BCCI. Modi is likely to face the music during the BCCI meeting. Farooq Abdullah who is a member of the IPL’s governing council made it public that the disciplinary committee found some major irregularities which involved former Commissioner Lalit Modi. He said that the governing council was convinced that Modi was influencing franchise bids in an unfair manner.
Abdullah said “the various problems that IPL has gone through were put forward and decisions were taken. We found out major irregularities that have been committed by the past chairman and discussed what will be done and how we would proceed further”.
IPL lost its credibility following different irregularities and controversies. Ideally, the BCCI will now like everything to be as transparent as possible in order to regain its past credibility. As for Modi, the fight will go on, since no one is willing to accept his mistakes. Only time will confirm if the IPL can its lost respect.
Tags: