BCCI launches series of charges against Modi

Hours after being toppled as IPL Commissioner, Lalit Modi today faced a series of charges, relating to the bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab and rigging of the bids of two new franchises apart from the broadcast deal and was asked to explain his conduct.

46-year-old Modi, who was suspended and issued a show-cause notice on various charges, was also accused of keeping the Governing Council in the dark and taking decisions on his own.

BCCI President Shashank Manohar, who addressed a press conference after a meeting of the Governing Council, gave a clean chit to Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, saying there is no involvement of any of his relatives either in the present or the initial bids.

He ruled out any political interference in the functioning of the BCCI saying as far he was concerne, nobody can change his decisions.

At the meeting, Baroda Cricket Association President Chirayu Amin was appointed the interim Chairman of IPL and a three-member committee of former players -- Sunil Gavaskar, M A K Pataudi and Ravi Shastri -- was appointed to manage affairs of IPL 4.

"Many of the records are missing. The IT is asking for documents. We don't have them. We have asked BCCI CAO Prof Ratnakar Shetty to look into the missing records and papers," he said.

Asked about the charges levelled against Modi, Manohar said the charges basically relate to the initial bid of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, allegations relating to broadcasting deal, bid rigging of two new franchises (Kochi and Pune), internet rights and behaviorial pattern.

Attacking Modi, he referred to the former IPL Commissioner's statement that the entire world knew about the IPL affairs but said even the members of the Governing Council were not aware of matters.

He cited the example of Rajasthan Royals franchise of the Jaipur IPL team in which shares of two people are sold and tranfered to certain individuals and certain companies.

"There is a company called Tresco and Blue Water... Nobody knows what is Blue Water and what is Tresco and all these things. I did not find in the shareholders register, the name of Raj Kundra or Shilpa Shetty, who claim to be the stakeholders," Manohar said.