Lalit Modi | |
---|---|
![]() Modi at the DLF IPL players auction, 2010 | |
Founder and Commissioner of Indian Premier League | |
In office 2008–2010 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
President of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) | |
In office 2005–2009 | |
Vice President of Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) | |
In office 2004–2012 | |
President and Managing Director of Modi Enterprises | |
In office 1991–2022 | |
Executive Director of Godfrey Phillips India | |
In office 1992–2010 | |
President of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) | |
In office 2014–2015 | |
Personal details | |
Born | New Delhi, India | 29 November 1963
Spouse |
Minal Sagrani
(m. 1991; died 2018) |
Children | 2 |
Parents |
|
Residence(s) | London, UK |
Alma mater | |
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Founding and being the first League Commissioner of the Indian Premier League |
Website | lalitmodi |
Lalit Modi (born 29 November 1963) is an Indian businessman and former cricket administrator and a financial fraud fugitive.[1][2][3][4] He was the founder, first chairman and League Commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and ran the tournament for three years until 2010. He also served as the Chairman of the Champions League from 2008 till 2010 and was Vice President of the BCCI from 2005 till 2010. He has also served as the President of the Rajasthan Cricket Association from 2005 till 2009 and then again from 2014 till 2015, and as the vice president of the Punjab Cricket Association from 2004 till 2012.
As a close associate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vasundhara Raje, Modi once held considerable political clout in Rajasthan. During Raje's first term as the Chief Minister, he was called "Super Chief Minister" by the opposition and the media. In 2010, Modi alleged that the Indian National Congress minister Shashi Tharoor held indirect free equity in the Kochi Tuskers Kerala IPL franchise, ultimately leading to Tharoor's resignation. The Kochi franchise alleged that Modi was harassing them, because he wanted another group to win the franchise bid. Shortly after IPL 2010 ended, Modi was suspended from BCCI after being accused of misconduct, indiscipline and financial irregularities. BCCI launched an investigation against him, and banned him for life in 2013 after a committee found him guilty of these charges. Modi denied any wrongdoing, and blamed accusations on political rivalries. Shortly before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched an investigation against him for alleged financial irregularities, he moved to London and was labeled a fugitive.