Noose tightens around Modi as Board ratifies charges

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to initiate legal proceedings against the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi. It unanimously ratified all charges against him and authorised its president Shashank Manohar to initiate civil and criminal proceedings.

The state cricket associations at a special general meeting convened today, also discussed the future course of action related to IPL.

"There were 30 members, including me and 29 members from state associations. The house resolved that the Board president has the right to start legal proceedings, including civil and criminal proceedings, against Modi," said Manohar. He confirmed the house unanimously ratified BCCI secretary N Srinivasan's move to refer charges against Modi to the disciplinary committee.

The three-member disciplinary committee was also reconstituted at the meeting as Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia replaced Manohar.

"Modi has accused me and Srinivasan of bias, so I recused myself from the committee. Scindia was appointed as a member as he is not involved in the day-to-day activities of BCCI," said Manohar.

Scindia is the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association chief and a Congress MP from Gwalior. IPL's interim chief Chirayu Amin and BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitly are the other members.

The reconstituted committee will now probe the charges against Modi. Manohar said criminal proceedings could be started against him for misappropriation of funds while issuing IPL contracts and rights. "There have been instances of financial irregularities as certain rights were given to parties without any contract like the ticketing rights of the finals and the third-place match given to a company called Ticket Genie. There was no contract to show how many tickets were printed and how many were sold," said Manohar. "The disciplinary committee should finish the inquiry in six months."

Asked about an estimate of the financial irregularities, Manohar said: "I can only say that there were several contracts of which we had no knowledge of." He said Modi will have to appear before the disciplinary committee to answer the charges on unilaterally taking decisions and taking kickbacks from TV and internet rights.

On the issue of World Sport Group (WSG) threatening to take legal action against BCCI after it cancelled its global rights for IPL, Manohar said: "If they want to go to court, it's fine." BCCI had cancelled WSG's rights alleging that it had taken an "improper" facilitation fee of $80 million from MSM, the Indian broadcaster for IPL. BCCI claimed it was not aware of this facilitation fee and the money rightfully belonged to the Board.

Manohar said Modi, too, was not aware of the $80 million. "Modi who had signed the contract has told us that he was not aware of the fee. He will be asked to appear before the inquiry committee where he can support his claim," Manohar said. WSG said the Board was well aware of the facilitation fee and would take legal action against it to reclaim its rights. Manohar said BCCI will issue a fresh tender for auctioning IPL's global rights while the contract with MSM would be valid.

Modi has been slapped with three show cause notices so far accusing him of embezzlement; trying to start a parallel league in England; and irregularities in issuing theatrical rights of IPL. Modi has replied to two notices.