Lalit Modi
Encyclopedia
Lalit Kumar Modi, is the former architect of the Indian Premier League.
Best known for his stint as the Chairman and Commissioner of the Indian Premier League
and the Chairman of the Champions League
, between 2008 and 2010, he has also occupied the roles of Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
, between 2005 and September 2010, and Vice President of the Punjab Cricket Association
.
Lalit Modi is also the President and Managing Director of Modi Enterprises and the Executive Director
of Godfrey Phillips India
.
is Chairman of Modi Enterprises, a Rs40 billion business empire, which was founded by his grandfather, Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi
, who also founded the town of Modinagar
.
His son Ruchir currently lives in London and is studying at the American School in London. Ruchir left the American School of Bombay in Mumbai in May 2010 due to security reasons. He is a cricket fanatic who is seen at most IPL games and IPL Nights and is quite the known face in and around Mumbai. Ruchir who is heavily present in the social and night life seen of Mumbai is extremely close to Liquor Baron Vijay Mallya's son Siddhartha. Siddhartha and Ruchir are referred to as the "Lucky Two" in the IPL circuit.ref>http://bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=Entertainment%20-%20Etc§id=31&contentid=20100412201004121343017448e9f4fc9, , ,
Daughter Aliya currently studies in Switzerland
at the exclusive Aiglon College.
Karima, who is Minal’s daughter from a previous marriage, is married and currently living in London
. Karima has a daughter named Arya.
Due to security reasons the Modis had left Mumbai in May 2010 and have relocated to London.
This was later cross-referenced by a government intelligence agency, who picked up a phone conversation between Chota Shakeel and his boss Dawood Ibrahim instructing him to hire four assassins to carry out the assassination of Modi and his family in either South Africa or in India.
Till today, Modi remains under constant threat and is rumoured to travel in a bullet-proof car and to be protected by three layers of around-the-clock security.
His son Ruchir remains under a high security cover as well after 2 near incidents took place on his life as mentioned on a letter sent by him to the Commissioner of Mumbai Police. In Mumbai and the rest of India Ruchir never leaves his house which was for a few months the five star deluxe Four Seasons Hotel in Southern Bombay without his convoy containing 7 vehicles including a police escort vehicle. He has a highly trained security team containing approximately 12 private Bodyguards including foreign security specialists and 4 heavily armed members of the Mumbai Police Protection Squad. , ,
, Asia's first boarding school, in 1971. Modi is noted to have been a brilliant sportsman and used to play a number of sports, including cricket. He also attended St Joseph's College
in Nainital. Having scored well in the SAT
, he chose to skip the school-leaving examinations, which were required for entrance to colleges and universities in India, and travelled to the United States to continue with his studies, where he studied Electrical Engineering
and Business Administration at Pace University
and Duke University
, between 1983 and 1986.
On March 1, 1985, while a sophomore
, Modi was arrested on charges of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, assault and second-degree kidnapping. On April 2, 1985, Modi and another student were indicted. Modi pleaded guilty to the crime when the case was heard in the Durham County court, North Carolina
and later entered a plea bargain, which resulted in a suspended two year prison sentence.
conglomerate
created and run by his family. Modi has been the Executive Director
of Godfrey Phillips India
since 1992, one of India's largest tobacco companies. The company is jointly promoted by the Modi Enterprises and Philip Morris International
.
in 1993, called Modi Entertainment Networks (MEN), to broadcast some of Disney's content in India, including Fashion TV
.
In 1994, he became the pan-India distributor of ESPN
on a ten-year contract worth $975 million. His job was to collect money from the cable companies in India in exchange for them broadcasting ESPN
.
The deal, gave ESS exclusive global commercial rights for all T20 Champions League seasons until 2017, making it the highest cricket tournament by value on a per game basis.
Apart from ESS, bids were received from Abu Dhabi Sports Club and Dubai International Capital (DIC). While the DIC bid was for $751.3 million, Abu Dhabi Sports Club’s bid, being a conditional one, was disqualified. ESS had bid $900 million for the deal and an additional $75 million for marketing.
Of the deal, ESS Managing Director, Manu Sawhney said: “This deal will cement our relationship with BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa and we are committed to setting new benchmarks in broadcast and distribution.” Lalit Modi, who was IPL chairman and commissioner at the time, said: “We believe this is the best commercial deal for Champions League.”
In 2008 ESPN, paid almost US$1 billion for the global rights to the Twenty20 Champions League, in a ten year deal. Lalit Modi called it: “The best commercial deal for the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 season and for cricket fans across the world.”
On 24th January 2008 The Indian Premier League announced the new owners of eight franchises. The base price of the auction was set at US$400 million, but the final auction total reached US$723.59 million. Mumbai was the most expensive team, costing US$111.9 million.
In October 2009, Nimbus Communications paid US$431 million for the rights to India's home international games for four years, which commenced in April 2010. Although the deal didn’t include internet or radio rights, Lalit Modi indicated the deal was: "The highest price ever that will be paid per match by a broadcaster to any national board."
Pune and Kochi were unveiled on 21st March 2010 as the two new franchises for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League. Pune was bought by Sahara Adventure Sports Group for US$370 million and the Kochi franchise was bought by Rendezvous Sports World Limited for $333.3 million. The auction fetched a total US$723.59 million.
called Sixo.http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/94134/India/Modi+and+controversy+go+a+long+way+back.html He later went into the real estate business in Rajasthan
, with a company called Amer Heritage City Construction Pvt Ltd, where his wife, Minal, is a director.
in 1999 (when it had no cricket stadia) after promising to build a cricket stadium that would be used to play cricket in the Indian summer. In 2000, he started raising concerns with the way things were run in Himachal, and was booted-out when Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal
became the Chief Minister
of Himachal Pradesh
and installed his son as the President of the HP Cricket Association.
. He became a member of the Nagore
district. He allegedly submitted his name to the RCA as Lalit Kumar, because he did not want to be "cut-off" like he was with the HPCA. He raised concerns with the way RCA was run by the Rungta family for 40 years. There were 32 district associations in Rajasthan
and 57 members, of which all 57 were related to the Rungta family. There were no elections in the RCA for 40 years.
He eventually became president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association
, with the help of then Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje
, who changed the law in Rajasthan, effective 18 August 2004, so that the RCA becomes a more democratic organisation with elections. His election was mired in controversy as he was accused of impersonating one Lalit Kumar to gain eligibility. His stint was over after Vasundhara lost the elections and he had to fight a fair election. He lost to Sanjay Dixit on 1st March 2009, a career bureuacrat and firebrand cricket administrator with whose brains and help, Lalit Modi had got into Rajasthan Cricket Association
. He did try to engineer a comeback by fomenting a revolt against Sanjay Dixit and the Government of Rajasthan, in a surprise move, ordered re-election. The wily fighter that he is, Sanjay Dixit patched up with Dr. CP Joshi, a Union Cabinet Minister, and Lalit Modi had the dubious distinction of losing twice in a calendar year after he lost the re-election to CP Joshi - Sanjay Dixit combine. CP Joshi is now the President while Sanjay Dixit as Secretary General continues to run the Rajasthan Cricket Association
far more successfully compared to Lalit Modi, making Rajasthan win the Ranji Trophy
in 2011.
of Rajasthan Cricket Association
and won, which entitled him to a seat on the Board of Control for Cricket in India
.
In 2005, Modi figured in a power struggle that resulted in Sharad Pawar
, an influential politician and national cabinet minister, ousting former Indian cricket supremo and International Cricket Council
Chief, Jagmohan Dalmiya
, in the Board of Control for Cricket in India elections. Modi was then appointed Vice-President of the BCCI.
Lalit Modi was heavily involved in the commercial side of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and it is reported he was responsible for increasing the BCCI's revenues sevenfold between 2005 and 2008, with the BCCI then reporting annual revenues of over $1 billion.
During his time at the BCCI, Lalit Modi concluded the following deals:
under the patronage of former Board of Control for Cricket in India
President, I.S. Bindra.
, a league based around Twenty20
cricket, where each team is limited to batting for a maximum of 20 overs
. he also engineered the Indian Premier League's move to South Africa
in 2009 after the dates of the tournament clashed with the Indian general election
and the Union Minister of Home Affairs
, P. Chidambaram, could not commit to the security of the tournament.
The IPL has since grown into one of the world's biggest sports, worth over US$4 billion. The commercial success of the Indian Premier League and Modi's control of the league has led to him being compared to Don King and Bernie Ecclestone.
In 2010, Modi oversaw the bidding process and creation of two new teams in the Indian Premier League. Pune
and Kochi were declared the new franchises. A Twitter
entry by Modi declaring the stakeholders of the Kochi IPL Team
allegedly breaching confidentiality agreements led to the resignation of the then India
n Minister of State for External Affairs
Dr. Shashi Tharoor
.
Modi was then suspended as Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL in April 2010. A suspension notice and a 34-page letter stating 22 charges of impropriety were served via email to Modi. Modi publicly protested his innocence immediately after the 2010 Indian Premier League
Final had been played.
An income tax department report on Modi has revealed that he holds a silent stake in three IPL teams - the Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab. Furthermore, there are questions as to whether Modi was involved in match fixing and betting in Indian Premier League games. He is also under fire for helping his family and friends buy stakes in Indian Premier League teams.
between Mihir Bose
and Lalit Modi was posted on the official www.lalitmodi.org website. During his first interview since being suspended as commissioner of the IPL
, Lalit Modi rejected a number of allegations levelled against him during his career. Global news networks, newspapers and social media sources reported on the interview, including The Times of India
, AFP
and The Economic Times
.
When Modi was asked whether Indian cricket needed the IPL
, he pointed out that when the IPL
was conceived it was: “considered to be a pioneering project”, and was something: “that the people of India needed and wanted.” Modi made clear that his family and friends benefited financially from the IPL
because they were helping to finance the businesses during its infancy, whilst Modi was attempting to find buyers.
When questioned about the US$80 million that Modi allegedly cost the BCCI
, he explained to Bose: “You’re putting the question wrong. The way I did the deals I made the BCCI billions of dollars not cost them eighty million dollars.”
Modi indicated that his security agencies advised him not to return to India until the threat level reduced. Security protection has remained high since Modi moved the IPL
to South Africa
in 2009.
The interview was also hosted on the official Lalit Modi YouTube channel
Best known for his stint as the Chairman and Commissioner of the Indian Premier League
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
and the Chairman of the Champions League
Twenty20 Champions League
The Champions League Twenty20 is an international Twenty20 cricket competition between club teams from India, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies...
, between 2008 and 2010, he has also occupied the roles of Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
Board of Control for Cricket in India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered at Mumbai, is the national governing body for all cricket in India. It's not the apex governing body in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as BCCI replaced Calcutta Cricket Club. BCCI is a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu...
, between 2005 and September 2010, and Vice President of the Punjab Cricket Association
Punjab Cricket Association
Punjab Cricket Association is the governing body of the Cricket activities in the Punjab state of India and the Punjab cricket team. It is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India....
.
Lalit Modi is also the President and Managing Director of Modi Enterprises and the Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of Godfrey Phillips India
Godfrey Phillips India
Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. is India's second largest cigarette maker. It is the number one cigarette company in North India and India's number one cigar marketing organisation.GPI's headsquarter is in New Delhi....
.
Early life
Lalit Modi was born into a wealthy and successful business family. His father Krishan Kumar ModiKrishan Kumar Modi
Kishan Kumar Modi, , is an Indian business man and head of the over Rs 4,000 crore diversified Modi Enterprises, including Godfrey Phillips, Modi care. He is also the father of Indian Cricket Administrator Lalit Modi of Indian Premier League.-Early life and education:Born in Patiala, India, K. K...
is Chairman of Modi Enterprises, a Rs40 billion business empire, which was founded by his grandfather, Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi
Gujar Mal Modi
Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi was a noted Indian industrialist and philanthropist, who co-established the Modi Group of companies and the industrial city of Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh in 1933, with his brother Kedar Nath Modi....
, who also founded the town of Modinagar
Modinagar
Modinagar is a city and a municipal board in Ghaziabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Founded in 1933 by Gujarmal Modi, who established the Modi group of industries here along with his brother, Kedar Nath Modi. Gujarmal Modi is the grandfather of Lalit Modi It is approximately 45...
.
Family
Lalit Modi is married to Minal, whom he met while studying in the USA.[8] Modi has three children, Karima, Ruchir and Aliya.His son Ruchir currently lives in London and is studying at the American School in London. Ruchir left the American School of Bombay in Mumbai in May 2010 due to security reasons. He is a cricket fanatic who is seen at most IPL games and IPL Nights and is quite the known face in and around Mumbai. Ruchir who is heavily present in the social and night life seen of Mumbai is extremely close to Liquor Baron Vijay Mallya's son Siddhartha. Siddhartha and Ruchir are referred to as the "Lucky Two" in the IPL circuit.ref>http://bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=Entertainment%20-%20Etc§id=31&contentid=20100412201004121343017448e9f4fc9, , ,
Daughter Aliya currently studies in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
at the exclusive Aiglon College.
Karima, who is Minal’s daughter from a previous marriage, is married and currently living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Karima has a daughter named Arya.
Due to security reasons the Modis had left Mumbai in May 2010 and have relocated to London.
Family Security Threat
In March 2009 the Mumbai police arrested and interrogated Rashid Malabari, who is reportedly the hit man of underworld don Chota Shakeel. During the interrogation, Malabari revealed that the there was a plan to assassinate Lalit Modi, his wife Minal and son Ruchir.This was later cross-referenced by a government intelligence agency, who picked up a phone conversation between Chota Shakeel and his boss Dawood Ibrahim instructing him to hire four assassins to carry out the assassination of Modi and his family in either South Africa or in India.
Till today, Modi remains under constant threat and is rumoured to travel in a bullet-proof car and to be protected by three layers of around-the-clock security.
His son Ruchir remains under a high security cover as well after 2 near incidents took place on his life as mentioned on a letter sent by him to the Commissioner of Mumbai Police. In Mumbai and the rest of India Ruchir never leaves his house which was for a few months the five star deluxe Four Seasons Hotel in Southern Bombay without his convoy containing 7 vehicles including a police escort vehicle. He has a highly trained security team containing approximately 12 private Bodyguards including foreign security specialists and 4 heavily armed members of the Mumbai Police Protection Squad. , ,
Education
Lalit Modi joined Bishop Cotton School in ShimlaShimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
, Asia's first boarding school, in 1971. Modi is noted to have been a brilliant sportsman and used to play a number of sports, including cricket. He also attended St Joseph's College
St Joseph's College, Nainital
St Joseph's College Nainital is a day boarding and residential school in Nainital, Uttarakhand, India providing public school education. Starting from 2010 academic session, the school will also accept girls for day boarding, for classes 11 and 12.-Overview:...
in Nainital. Having scored well in the SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
, he chose to skip the school-leaving examinations, which were required for entrance to colleges and universities in India, and travelled to the United States to continue with his studies, where he studied Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and Business Administration at Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
and Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, between 1983 and 1986.
On March 1, 1985, while a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
, Modi was arrested on charges of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, assault and second-degree kidnapping. On April 2, 1985, Modi and another student were indicted. Modi pleaded guilty to the crime when the case was heard in the Durham County court, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and later entered a plea bargain, which resulted in a suspended two year prison sentence.
Business career
Modi is the President and Managing Director of Modi Enterprises, an industrialIndustry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
created and run by his family. Modi has been the Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of Godfrey Phillips India
Godfrey Phillips India
Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. is India's second largest cigarette maker. It is the number one cigarette company in North India and India's number one cigar marketing organisation.GPI's headsquarter is in New Delhi....
since 1992, one of India's largest tobacco companies. The company is jointly promoted by the Modi Enterprises and Philip Morris International
Philip Morris International
Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company, with products sold in over 160 countries. In 2007, it held a 15.6% share of the international cigarette market outside of the USA and reported revenues net of excise taxes of $22.8 billion and operating income of $8.9 billion.Until...
.
Modi Entertainment Networks
Modi started a 10-year joint venture with Walt Disney PicturesWalt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
in 1993, called Modi Entertainment Networks (MEN), to broadcast some of Disney's content in India, including Fashion TV
Fashion TV
Fashion TV is an international fashion and lifestyle broadcasting television channel. It was founded in France in 1997 by its Polish-born president Michel Adam Lisowski, Fashion TV is the only 24/7 international TV network exclusively dedicated to fashion, beauty, glamour and style and has become...
.
In 1994, he became the pan-India distributor of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
on a ten-year contract worth $975 million. His job was to collect money from the cable companies in India in exchange for them broadcasting ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
The deal, gave ESS exclusive global commercial rights for all T20 Champions League seasons until 2017, making it the highest cricket tournament by value on a per game basis.
Apart from ESS, bids were received from Abu Dhabi Sports Club and Dubai International Capital (DIC). While the DIC bid was for $751.3 million, Abu Dhabi Sports Club’s bid, being a conditional one, was disqualified. ESS had bid $900 million for the deal and an additional $75 million for marketing.
Of the deal, ESS Managing Director, Manu Sawhney said: “This deal will cement our relationship with BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa and we are committed to setting new benchmarks in broadcast and distribution.” Lalit Modi, who was IPL chairman and commissioner at the time, said: “We believe this is the best commercial deal for Champions League.”
In 2008 ESPN, paid almost US$1 billion for the global rights to the Twenty20 Champions League, in a ten year deal. Lalit Modi called it: “The best commercial deal for the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 season and for cricket fans across the world.”
On 24th January 2008 The Indian Premier League announced the new owners of eight franchises. The base price of the auction was set at US$400 million, but the final auction total reached US$723.59 million. Mumbai was the most expensive team, costing US$111.9 million.
In October 2009, Nimbus Communications paid US$431 million for the rights to India's home international games for four years, which commenced in April 2010. Although the deal didn’t include internet or radio rights, Lalit Modi indicated the deal was: "The highest price ever that will be paid per match by a broadcaster to any national board."
Pune and Kochi were unveiled on 21st March 2010 as the two new franchises for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League. Pune was bought by Sahara Adventure Sports Group for US$370 million and the Kochi franchise was bought by Rendezvous Sports World Limited for $333.3 million. The auction fetched a total US$723.59 million.
Other Interests
In 2002, he launched an online lottery business in KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
called Sixo.http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/94134/India/Modi+and+controversy+go+a+long+way+back.html He later went into the real estate business in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, with a company called Amer Heritage City Construction Pvt Ltd, where his wife, Minal, is a director.
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association
Lalit Modi joined the Himachal Pradesh Cricket AssociationHimachal Pradesh Cricket Association
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association is the governing body of the Cricket activities in the Himachal Pradesh state of India and the Himachal Pradesh cricket team...
in 1999 (when it had no cricket stadia) after promising to build a cricket stadium that would be used to play cricket in the Indian summer. In 2000, he started raising concerns with the way things were run in Himachal, and was booted-out when Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal
Prem Kumar Dhumal
Prem Kumar Dhumal is an Indian politician who was Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh from March 1998 to March 2003 and has been Chief Minister again since 1 January 2008.-Electoral career:...
became the Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
and installed his son as the President of the HP Cricket Association.
Rajasthan Cricket Association
In 2005, Lalit Modi joined the Rajasthan Cricket AssociationRajasthan Cricket Association
The Rajasthan Cricket Association , headquartered in Jaipur, administers the game of cricket in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It officiates over the state level cricket in Rajasthan and the Rajasthan cricket team. It selects the cricket team of the state of Rajasthan to play in Indian first class...
. He became a member of the Nagore
Nagore
Nagore is a town in the Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located approximately 16 km south of Karaikal and 4 km north of Nagapattinam. Tiruvarur , Mayiladuthurai , Muthupet are nearby towns. It has a population of approximately 90,000. The prime attraction is the renowned...
district. He allegedly submitted his name to the RCA as Lalit Kumar, because he did not want to be "cut-off" like he was with the HPCA. He raised concerns with the way RCA was run by the Rungta family for 40 years. There were 32 district associations in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
and 57 members, of which all 57 were related to the Rungta family. There were no elections in the RCA for 40 years.
He eventually became president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association
Rajasthan Cricket Association
The Rajasthan Cricket Association , headquartered in Jaipur, administers the game of cricket in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It officiates over the state level cricket in Rajasthan and the Rajasthan cricket team. It selects the cricket team of the state of Rajasthan to play in Indian first class...
, with the help of then Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje
Vasundhara Raje
Vasundhara Raje was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan state of India from December 2003 till December 2008. She is the first woman Chief Minister of Rajasthan.- Early life :...
, who changed the law in Rajasthan, effective 18 August 2004, so that the RCA becomes a more democratic organisation with elections. His election was mired in controversy as he was accused of impersonating one Lalit Kumar to gain eligibility. His stint was over after Vasundhara lost the elections and he had to fight a fair election. He lost to Sanjay Dixit on 1st March 2009, a career bureuacrat and firebrand cricket administrator with whose brains and help, Lalit Modi had got into Rajasthan Cricket Association
Rajasthan Cricket Association
The Rajasthan Cricket Association , headquartered in Jaipur, administers the game of cricket in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It officiates over the state level cricket in Rajasthan and the Rajasthan cricket team. It selects the cricket team of the state of Rajasthan to play in Indian first class...
. He did try to engineer a comeback by fomenting a revolt against Sanjay Dixit and the Government of Rajasthan, in a surprise move, ordered re-election. The wily fighter that he is, Sanjay Dixit patched up with Dr. CP Joshi, a Union Cabinet Minister, and Lalit Modi had the dubious distinction of losing twice in a calendar year after he lost the re-election to CP Joshi - Sanjay Dixit combine. CP Joshi is now the President while Sanjay Dixit as Secretary General continues to run the Rajasthan Cricket Association
Rajasthan Cricket Association
The Rajasthan Cricket Association , headquartered in Jaipur, administers the game of cricket in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It officiates over the state level cricket in Rajasthan and the Rajasthan cricket team. It selects the cricket team of the state of Rajasthan to play in Indian first class...
far more successfully compared to Lalit Modi, making Rajasthan win the Ranji Trophy
Ranji Trophy
The Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between different city and state sides, equivalent to the County Championship in England and the Sheffield Shield in Australia...
in 2011.
Board of Control for Cricket in India
In 2004, Lalit Modi ran for PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Rajasthan Cricket Association
Rajasthan Cricket Association
The Rajasthan Cricket Association , headquartered in Jaipur, administers the game of cricket in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It officiates over the state level cricket in Rajasthan and the Rajasthan cricket team. It selects the cricket team of the state of Rajasthan to play in Indian first class...
and won, which entitled him to a seat on the Board of Control for Cricket in India
Board of Control for Cricket in India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered at Mumbai, is the national governing body for all cricket in India. It's not the apex governing body in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as BCCI replaced Calcutta Cricket Club. BCCI is a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu...
.
In 2005, Modi figured in a power struggle that resulted in Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar
Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar , popularly known as SAHEB , is the president of the Nationalist Congress Party which he founded in 1999, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
, an influential politician and national cabinet minister, ousting former Indian cricket supremo and International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
Chief, Jagmohan Dalmiya
Jagmohan Dalmiya
Jagmohan Dalmiya, born in Calcutta, India on May 30, 1940, is a well-known Indian cricket administrator. He studied at the Scottish Church College, Calcutta....
, in the Board of Control for Cricket in India elections. Modi was then appointed Vice-President of the BCCI.
Lalit Modi was heavily involved in the commercial side of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and it is reported he was responsible for increasing the BCCI's revenues sevenfold between 2005 and 2008, with the BCCI then reporting annual revenues of over $1 billion.
During his time at the BCCI, Lalit Modi concluded the following deals:
- Pan-India distributor deal with ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
on a ten-year contract - $975 million in 1994 - Team Sponsorship Deal for Team India with Sahara Thenyamukkim group for 4 years - $103 million (415 Crores) on 20.12.05
- Team Apparel Sponsor Deal for Team India with Nike for 4 year - $53 million (215 Crores) on 24.12.05
- Media Rights Deal with Nimbus for 4 years - $612 million on 18.2.06
- Media Rights for overseas matches with Zee for 4 years - $219 million on 7.4.06
- BCCI Sponsorship Deal with WSG - $46 million (173 Crores) on 27.8.07
- The Indian Premier League sold eight franchises - US$723.59 million on 24.01.08
- ESPN deal for Twenty20 global rights - US$1 billion in 2008
- IPL Media Rights Deal with Sony - $1.26 Billion on 15.1.08
- Web Media Rights to Live current Media - $50 million on 18.4.08
- IPL Title sponsorship and Ground sponsors - $220 million in March 2008
- Renegotiated with Sony WSG the IPL Media rights from $1.26 billion to over $2.46 billion on 25.3.2009
- Nimbus Communications four year deal for the rights to India's home international games - US$431 million in October 2009
- IPL Theatrical Rights Deal with UFO and ESD for over 300 Crores on 12 November 2009
- IPL Entertainment Broadcast deal with Viacom for over $30 Million on 23 January 2010
- IPL undisclosed sum deal with Google and YouTube on 22 January 2010
- Pune and Kochi deal with Sahara Adventure Sports Group and Rendezvous Sports World Limited - US$723.59 million - US$723.59 million on 21st March 2010
Punjab Cricket Association
Lalit Modi is currently the Vice President of the Punjab Cricket AssociationPunjab Cricket Association
Punjab Cricket Association is the governing body of the Cricket activities in the Punjab state of India and the Punjab cricket team. It is affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India....
under the patronage of former Board of Control for Cricket in India
Board of Control for Cricket in India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered at Mumbai, is the national governing body for all cricket in India. It's not the apex governing body in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as BCCI replaced Calcutta Cricket Club. BCCI is a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu...
President, I.S. Bindra.
Indian Premier League
In 2008, Lalit Modi was instrumental in launching the Indian Premier League (IPL)Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
, a league based around Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
cricket, where each team is limited to batting for a maximum of 20 overs
Over (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, an over is a set of six consecutive balls bowled in succession. An over is normally bowled by a single bowler. However, in the event of injury preventing a bowler from completing an over, it is completed by a teammate....
. he also engineered the Indian Premier League's move to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 2009 after the dates of the tournament clashed with the Indian general election
Indian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
and the Union Minister of Home Affairs
Minister for Home Affairs (India)
The Home Minister, or more properly the Minister for Home Affairs, is a position in the Indian Cabinet, at both State and Union levels. The Home Ministry is one of the most important, powerful and high profile ministry after the Prime Minister...
, P. Chidambaram, could not commit to the security of the tournament.
The IPL has since grown into one of the world's biggest sports, worth over US$4 billion. The commercial success of the Indian Premier League and Modi's control of the league has led to him being compared to Don King and Bernie Ecclestone.
In 2010, Modi oversaw the bidding process and creation of two new teams in the Indian Premier League. Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
and Kochi were declared the new franchises. A Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
entry by Modi declaring the stakeholders of the Kochi IPL Team
Kochi IPL Team
Kochi Tuskers Kerala was a franchise cricket team that played in the Indian Premier League representing the city of Kochi, Kerala. The team was one of two new franchisees added to the Indian Premier League for the 2011 season, alongside the Pune Warriors India. The team franchise was owned by...
allegedly breaching confidentiality agreements led to the resignation of the then India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Minister of State for External Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs (India)
The Ministry of External Affairs is the foreign ministry of India. It is the Indian government agency responsible for the foreign relations of India. The Minister of External Affairs holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers. The current minister is S M Krishna...
Dr. Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor is an Indian politician and a Member of Parliament from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala...
.
Modi was then suspended as Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL in April 2010. A suspension notice and a 34-page letter stating 22 charges of impropriety were served via email to Modi. Modi publicly protested his innocence immediately after the 2010 Indian Premier League
2010 Indian Premier League
The 2010 Indian Premier League season, abbreviated as IPL 3 or the 2010 IPL, was the third season of the Indian Premier League, established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2007. The tournament was hosted by India and had an estimated television audience of more than 200 million...
Final had been played.
An income tax department report on Modi has revealed that he holds a silent stake in three IPL teams - the Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab. Furthermore, there are questions as to whether Modi was involved in match fixing and betting in Indian Premier League games. He is also under fire for helping his family and friends buy stakes in Indian Premier League teams.
Mihir Bose Interview
On 25th November 2010 an exclusive interview conducted in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
between Mihir Bose
Mihir Bose
Mihir Bose also referred to as Spermy ,is a British Indian sportswriter and journalist, who was the BBC's sports editor until 4 August 2009.-Early life:...
and Lalit Modi was posted on the official www.lalitmodi.org website. During his first interview since being suspended as commissioner of the IPL
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
, Lalit Modi rejected a number of allegations levelled against him during his career. Global news networks, newspapers and social media sources reported on the interview, including The Times of India
The Times of India
The Times of India is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. TOI has the largest circulation among all English-language newspaper in the world, across all formats . It is owned and managed by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd...
, AFP
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
and The Economic Times
The Economic Times
The Economic Times is an English-language Indian daily newspaper published by the Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.. The Economic Times was started in 1961. It is the most popular and widely read financial daily in India, read by more than 8 lakh people...
.
When Modi was asked whether Indian cricket needed the IPL
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
, he pointed out that when the IPL
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
was conceived it was: “considered to be a pioneering project”, and was something: “that the people of India needed and wanted.” Modi made clear that his family and friends benefited financially from the IPL
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
because they were helping to finance the businesses during its infancy, whilst Modi was attempting to find buyers.
When questioned about the US$80 million that Modi allegedly cost the BCCI
Board of Control for Cricket in India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered at Mumbai, is the national governing body for all cricket in India. It's not the apex governing body in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as BCCI replaced Calcutta Cricket Club. BCCI is a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu...
, he explained to Bose: “You’re putting the question wrong. The way I did the deals I made the BCCI billions of dollars not cost them eighty million dollars.”
Modi indicated that his security agencies advised him not to return to India until the threat level reduced. Security protection has remained high since Modi moved the IPL
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 2009.
The interview was also hosted on the official Lalit Modi YouTube channel
Awards and Recognitions
- In October 2011, Lalit Modi was bestowed the 'Outstanding Contribution Award' at the 2011 International Sports Event Management (ISEM) Awards
- In February 2010, Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
named Lalit Modi as the 2nd Most Powerful Person in Indian Sports - On 28 December 2009, Business StandardBusiness StandardBusiness Standard is an Indian English-language daily newspaper published by Business Standard Ltd in two languages, English and Hindi...
named Lalit Modi as one of the ‘Game Changers of the Decade’ - On 26 September 2009, Lalit Modi was presented with the ‘Brand of the Year’ award by India Leadership Conclave
- In August 2009, Forbes Magazine described the IPL as ‘the worlds hottest sports league’ – a remarkable accolade from a US magazine less than a year after the IPL’s launch
- On 22 January 2009, Lalit Modi was given the ‘Sport Business Leader’ award by CBNC-TV18
- On 30 December 2008, SportzPower ranked Lalit Modi No 1 in their annual Top 20
- On 12 November 2008, Lalit Modi was given the SportsBusiness ‘Rushmans Award For Sports Event Innovation’ by Rushmans
- On 8 November 2008, Lalit Modi was given the ‘Teacher's Achievement of the Year’ award by Beam Global Spirits & Wine
- In October 2008, Business Week ranked Lalit Modi 19th in a list of 25 most powerful global sports figures
- On 24 October 2008, Lalit Modi was awarded for ‘Excellence in Innovation’ at the Frost & Sullivan Growth Excellence Awards
- On 6 October 2008, Lalit Modi was named ‘The Most Innovative Business Leader in India’ by NDTV Profit
- On 26 September 2008, Lalit Modi was presented with ‘The Consumer Award for Transforming Cricket in India’ by CNBC Awaaz
- On 25 September 2008, Lalit Modi was named ‘Brand Builder of the Year’ by Asia Brand Conference
- In August 2008, Lalit Modi was ranked number 17 in the leading sports magazine Sports Pro’s Power List of global figures connected with sports
- In July 2008, Time Magazine ranked Lalit Modi 16th in a list of the world’s best sports executives
- In July 2008 he featured on the cover of Sports Pro and was hailed as the Best Rain Maker (money maker) for any sports body in the history of sports globally
- On 21 June 2008, Lalit Modi was given the ‘Business Standard Award’ for making BCCI the Most Innovative Company in India for that year
- On 9 April 2006, Mike AthertonMike AthertonMichael Andrew Atherton OBE is a broadcaster, journalist and retired England international cricketer. A right-handed opening batsman for Lancashire and England,and occasional leg-break bowler, he achieved the captaincy of England at the age of 25 and led the side in a record 54 Test matches...
described Lalit Modi as arguably ‘the most important cricket administrator in the world today’ - In March 2008, Lalit Modi was listed among India's 30 most powerful people by the India TodayIndia TodayIndia Today is an Indian weekly news magazine published by Living Media India Limited, in publication since 1975 based in Mumbai. India Today is also the name of its sister-publication in Hindi...
magazine
See also
- Rajasthan Government Sports Re-organizations Act, 2004. http://www.rajasthan.gov.in/rajgovresources/others/RajSports2004Eng.pdf
- Indian Cricket LeagueIndian Cricket LeagueThe Indian Cricket League was a private cricket league funded by Zee Entertainment Enterprises that operated between 2007 and 2009 in India...
- Indian Premier LeagueIndian Premier LeagueThe Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
- Twenty20 Champions LeagueTwenty20 Champions LeagueThe Champions League Twenty20 is an international Twenty20 cricket competition between club teams from India, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies...
- Twenty20 CupTwenty20 CupThe Twenty20 Cup was a cricket competition for English and Welsh county clubs.In 2010, it has been replaced by Friends Provident t20 as the domestic Twenty20 competition.-History:...
- Gabriella DemetriadesGabriella DemetriadesGabriella Demetriades is a South African model. She was a Miss Indian Premier League Bollywood 2009 contestant and was chosen as one of FHMs "100 Sexiest Women In The World" contestant. Demetriades is most famous for being "Miss IPL Bollywood" in which she represented the IPL team Deccan...