The battle between Lalit Modi and the Board of Control for Cricket in India is drawing ever closer to what will be an uncomfortable end for the suspended Indian Premier League chief. The BCCI secretary, on Tuesday, circulated a six-page report on Modi’s replies to the charges levelled against
him. In this report N Srinivasan, the secretary, systematically explains why each of Modi’s responses is unsatisfactory.
The first charge refers to the fact that the bid for the Rajasthan Royals was made by Emerging Media IPL Pvt Ltd, but eventually awarded to Jaipur IPL Cricket Ltd, something Modi has not been able to explain.
The second charge concerns the insertion of certain “restrictive” and “objectionable clauses” in the Invitation To Tender for two new teams in 2010. “The ITT for the two additional franchises was placed with the Governing Council at its meeting held on 17th December and the said document which was approved by the Governing Council did not contain the two objectionable clauses,” wrote Srinivasan. “Prima facie it continues to appear that Mr Lalit K Modi had on his own initiative, inserted these two conditions.” Srinivasan also states that Modi’s version of events surrounding the Kochi IPL fiasco, which resulted in Shashi Tharoor resigning as Minister of State for External Affairs, are contrasting with the Kochi team’s version of how things unfolded. Srinivasan concludes that “this has to be enquired into in a detailed manner.”
On the charge surrounding the $80 million (Rs 368 cr) facilitation fee that was paid out as part of a renegotiated TV rights deal, the BCCI concludes that this was a “loss caused to the BCCI.” The letter states: “Mr Lalit K Modi has not explained why the BCCI was made to practically guarantee payment by MSM Satellite (Singapore) to WSG Mauritius. There is no explanation why such a contract should have been signed. The facts clearly point to the serious irregularities in the award of media rights.”
Srinivasan, who has been cleared of any conflict of interest despite owning the Chennai IPL team and being the secretary of the BCCI, has also found “serious issues of nepotism and conflict of interest” in the manner in which Modi awarded internet rights. Modi’s decision to go public with the shareholding pattern of the Kochi IPL franchise, instead of raising his concerns with the IPL governing council, has also attracted censure.
More trouble
While the BCCI’s disciplinary committee (comprising Arun Jaitley, Chirayu Amin and a third member who will be co-opted on July 3) will finally recommend what action should be taken against Modi, trouble could reach his doorstep much earlier. A 15-point agenda for the Governing Council’s meeting on June 25 will take up the issue of several deals entered into by Modi without the BCCI’s knowledge. The Special General Meeting will “decide and discuss on the WSG Mauritius and MSM” deal, exploitation of 150-second ad spots in IPL III, IPL Nights parties and their media rights, award of ticketing rights to the IPL, expenses incurred by the IPL office housed in the Four Seasons hotel in Mumbai and the ground transportation bill of Modi.