Casting the glam and scam together

Indian Premier League was his mind’s cultivation in India, things were going smooth but it all came to a crashing end for him when he was smeared with the allegations of scamming via the cricket league.

Glam and scam were the two sides of a coin for Lalit Modi; Image Source: India TV

Things unsaid remain secret, it’s been years since the fiasco of the IPL scam took place and Lalit Modi the mastermind behind the Indian Premier League of cricket came under the scanner. Cricket has been a joy sport for people of all walks of life in India. From the riches to the rags, the big men dealing with money matters and the young kids of the gully; all thrive on the spirit of cricket and its fandom.

The story of Lalit Modi begins from the time when he rose to the great power of decision making in BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). The successor of Modi Group, a conglomerate established by his grandfather Gujarmal Modi, dealt with varied business interests like entertainment, agriculture, chemical, toiletries, cigarettes among others. He was appointed the Vice-Chairman of BCCI in the year 2005, after a long journey he set when he resolved to hold a decision-making position in the organization. To launch IPL in India and a nod of the BCCI, he launched India’s greatest gaming league.

The Premier League was no less than an impersonation of the NBA or other private sporting leagues across the world. Taking a cue from these big banners, he carved India’s own league which opened up the sluice gates for sponsorship and branding of the event.

The BCCI was getting great profits from the games, with the state teams and their separate advertisement, players of cricket indeed got exposure and fame other than just national sports events. Players who weren’t getting a chance to showcase their magic for team India were now in front of the viewers playing for a ceremonious league. Things were going well, men in blue were now men of varied shades. Cricket fans were thankful to the man who opened a frolic passage to enjoy the game for them.

Within the three years of this decorated annual extravagance, fingers started getting pointed at Lalit Modi for favouring his relatives for sponsorships, as the transparency of the BCCI started getting questioned. Things started taking a rough turn and he was released off the position in the BCCI as the commissioner of IPL.

Allegations of money laundering by turning the black money into white by investing in the foreign companies of Mauritius, keeping BCCI in dark about the advertisement deals with WSG (World Sports Group), and conducting rigged bids auctions, were levelled against him. Sensing the emerging difficulties he left for London, as almost 20 cases were being registered against his ulterior intent behind setting up the IPL. The charges were grave, as he was charged for violating the FEMA Act during the transfer of funds from BCCI, which was against the guidelines issued by RBI (Reserve Bank of India) for the transfer of Indian currency abroad.

News flash and various investigating agencies tried to reach him out, but it was too late to amend anything. Lalit Modi sneaked to London and got declared as a fugitive by the Indian government for not abiding by the summons by Enforcement Directorate and other eminent investigating organisations. And that’s how a rising tycoon met his fate, away from his land and stripped off his noteworthy contribution to India, the IPL. The investigation is still at a halt as Mr Lalit Modi is at large away in the luxuries of London.