Lalit Modi faces threat of detention, Look Out Circular for him

Suspended IPL czar Lalit Modi, who is now in the UK, faced the threat of detention in India with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alerting airports and other entry points across the country in connection with its probe.

A Look Out Circular was issued by the financial watchdog against 46-year-old Modi, under probe for alleged violation of foreign exchange regulations regarding the T20 cricket tournament, in more trouble for the embattled former chairman of the glitzy IPL.

It empowers the enforcement agency at the country's check points to detain the individual who has been flagged and keep the issuing agency immediately informed.

The circular has been flashed to entry points and airports in the country along with his photographs by the ED which has already started the process of getting revoked the passport of Modi, who has also been accused of misappropriation of Cricket Board funds to the tune of Rs 470 crore.

Compounding Modi's problems, the ED is examining the FIR filed by the Cricket Board against him for alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 470 crore.

ED recently issued an international Blue Notice Alert for detention of Modi for alleged "serious contraventions" of the foreign exchange law in connection with IPL. The notice bears Modi's photograph and passport number besides other details.

Modi, however, has maintained that he has always cooperated with the ED and that he is ready to appear before the agency personally in London or through video conferencing.

BCCI secretary N Srinivasan had, in his criminal complaint filed with the Chennai Police Commissioner, accused Modi of committing financial irregularities mainly in allotment of media rights and free commercial rights.

The complaint was filed in Chennai as the Board is registered there.

In Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Police said it would take at least one week for them to take any action against Modi on the complaint.

"We have been given lot of records by BCCI. Some of them are very complicated. So we are going to seek the help of experts. After having gone through these records, we can come to a conclusion who are the people we can issue summons to," Chennai Police Commissioner T Rajendiran said.

That will be a "logical step" and the police have to wait at least for a week, he said, adding, there were some "technical issues".

Yesterday, Police registered a case against Modi and six others under different sections of IPC including criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, falsification of accounts and cheating.

Asked whether Chennai police can handle a case of this magnitude, Rajendiran said, "We used to get lot of cases relating to stocks and shares. However this is different thing altogether.These are big players, some of them (agencies) are in foreign countries. It will be a big challenge for us."

When reminded that some of the accused were abroad, he said the Enforcement Directorate had taken steps and "we will deal with it".

"Once we decide to issue a summons, then we can take a logical step," he added.