Indian Premier League (IPL) chief Lalit Modi faced an uncertain future on Tuesday after the government launched a probe into the financial dealings of the money-spinning cricket tournament.
The tax investigation began after revelations by Modi led to the resignation of a government minister and claims from the opposition that the league was a front for money laundering and illegal betting.
Top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which owns the IPL, are believed to blame Modi, 46, for attracting the taxman to their door and many want him to quit as IPL commissioner.
Modi, the driving force behind the success of the IPL, which has seen its brand value surge to $US4.1 billion ($A4.43 billion) dollars in just three short years, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
“Lots in media – speculations,” Modi wrote on his Twitter page from Dubai where he is representing the BCCI at an International Cricket Council meeting.
“Welcome all investigation. Ready to extend all cooperation,” he added.
The IPL, which began in 2008, features the world’s top cricketers playing Twenty20 cricket. There are eight franchises owned by India’s wealthy businessmen and film stars.
When Modi returns to India later on Tuesday he will be confronted by a combative media, which has already predicted his days as IPL boss are numbered.
There was growing speculation that Modi will quit before a meeting of the 14-member IPL governing council in Mumbai next Monday, but BCCI officials cautioned against jumping the gun.
“Look, there is a lot of anger that Modi has put us in such a mess,” a senior BCCI official told AFP.
“The board has never faced such embarrassment.
“But the general opinion is to give Modi a chance to explain his side of the story … if he wants to that is.”
The income-tax department has summoned IPL officials to hand over all paperwork pertaining to the tournament by Friday, including details on television rights, sponsorships and deals with franchises and players.
Modi brought down junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor by revealing on Twitter the ownership structure of a new IPL franchise which showed a free stake had been gifted to the politician’s girlfriend.
Tharoor, a former top UN diplomat, was forced to resign on Sunday over allegations – which he strongly denied – that the stake was a kickback for his help in putting together the consortium that bought the franchise.
The furore led the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party to demand an investigation into the IPL, which it labelled “the Corruption Premier League”.
Liquor and airline baron Vijay Mallya, who owns the Bangalore Royal Challengers IPL franchise, jumped to Modi’s defence, saying a needless controversy was brewing.
“Modi has done a great job with the IPL, which is one of the leading sports brands in the world,” Mallya told reporters.
“The entire IPL cannot be tainted by this controversy.
“We at the Royal Challengers are clean. I am sure the other franchises will also want to be transparent. Let’s not jump the gun. We must wait for the tax probe to be over.”
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
drewster, I don't particularly like his style but he is no more culpable as any of the others in the BCCI or for that matter the IPL, Governing Council. The Gov. Council had Bindra,the principal advisor to the ICC and a BCCI heavyweight, and three former Indian Captains...one of these has said they may have taken their eye off the ball. The curent fiasco involves more than just Modi..and they way politics works I would not be surprised if this is all covered up. At the moment egos are bruised but in time "economic reality" will set in and a few will have their wrists slapped. Politics, big business and bollywood have more dirt than a BMX track. And you are right the IPL is a product. It is not sport as you and I know it.
drewster
Roar Pro
Vinay, I don't think the product is the problem or how much players make. The problem is the Man himself who comes accross to me anyway as someone who thinks he is bigger than the product he administates over.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
True Tah and Drewster...At the outset let me state I am not an apologist for Modi or Tharoor. Roarers familair with my writing know I am not likely to be invited to high tea with the BCCI. My take on all this is that both Tharoor,well read and urbane, and Lalit Modi,shrewd businessman and strategist, have made enemies in their fields. They both do not suffer fools gladly and both have some powerful allies. Like him or loath him Modi has produced a financial bonanza for the BCCI. It is slick,some say outlandish,oozing with money,some say obscenely and more style(bad taste) than substance. Once you get rid of the innuendo and mud slinging the facts remain that the existing franchises have not been proven guilty of anything. In fact they have not even be charged,like Goldman Sachs have been. It ,the IPL, has made a lot of players,including Aussies,fabulously rich. It has the best umpires in Taufel and Koertzen( a bit old now) and there is no evidence of any match-fixing.If I am not mistaken this IPL is being monitored by the ICC Anti-corruption body. Till there is evidence to the contrary the show goes on..and so it should.
drewster
Roar Pro
That should put that Egotistical little Weazel back in his box. Should have learnt to keep his mouth shut and just administrate the product.
True Tah
Guest
Why dont these allegations come as a surprise?