BCCI endorses charges against Lalit Modi

Lalit Modi found himself completely isolated with all members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Working Committee today endorsing charges of bid-rigging and other financial irregularities against the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner.

During the hour-long meeting at the BCCI headquarters here, board president Shashank Manohar explained to the 22 members of the committee just why it was important to suspend Modi from all IPL and the Board posts.

"All the members agreed upon the charges against Modi," a source told PTI.

"All the happenings leading up to the suspension were also told to the members. Manohar informed the members about several deals that Modi entered into without the IPL Governing Council's knowledge, including the TV rights deal," he added.

Modi was suspended as the chairman and commissioner of the league after the IPL final last Sunday because of alleged financial irregularities and rigging of bids. Modi was charged on five counts, including irregularities in the bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab and in the broadcast and internet deals, and has to file his replies within 15 days to these charges.

He has been replaced at the helm in the interim by Chirayu Amin, another vice-president of the BCCI.

The invalid IPL tickets issued to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and charges of bypassing MCA while organising IPL matches in Mumbai were also discussed in the meeting.

"From now on, all the IPL matches will have to be conducted through the host association. They cannot deal directly with the stadium authorities. Host association cannot be bypassed," said the source.