High drama in Jaipur as Modi clashes with detractors

Even as local police started an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of RCA funds by its president Lalit Modi, high drama was enacted at the Rajasthan Cricket Association office.

Even as local police started an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of RCA funds by its president Lalit Modi, high drama was enacted at the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) office on Saturday.

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When Modi reached the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, some youth raised slogans against him. Lakhand Singh, SHO Jyotinagar police station, said that the complainant Anil Shekahwat's statement against Modi was recorded. Modi's counsel Jagdeep Dhankar requested the police to give his client some time to file a reply.

RCA secretary Subhash Joshi said Modi reached the office in the afternoon and bolted the door from inside. “When I came to know about this, I rushed to the office and forced Modi to open the door,” said Joshi. “I asked him to vacate his office.” This led to a heated discussion between Modi and Joshi in full media glare, though they later retired to their respective chambers.

Joshi lodged a written complaint against Modi to the local police and accused him of stealing important documents from the RCA office. Additional Superintendent of Police Laxman Singh Gaur reached the spot and seized an envelope and some papers from Modi. Gaur said that the papers would be examined and action would be taken if necessary.

Joshi claimed that more than 26 district cricket associations had decided to hold the elections on time and nobody had any right to postpone the polls. He claimed that the Supreme Court had accepted their plea about the four-year term of the RCA, hence elections could be held in consonance with the provisions of the Rajasthan Sports Act .

Later in the day, shortly after 8pm, Modi was once again in the news as the police summoned him for what it termed “routine questioning.”