Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has revisited several controversies that shaped his career, making a series of explosive claims involving underworld threats, political figures and the Indian Premier League.
Modi alleged that Dawood Ibrahim’s syndicate targeted him after he attempted to curb illegal betting and match-fixing activities linked to cricket. He claimed there were three attempts on his life and said his son was once kidnapped, incidents that ultimately pushed him away from cricket administration. According to Modi, he also received threatening calls allegedly linked to Dawood’s network.
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Rejecting the label of a fugitive, Modi insisted he is not hiding from Indian authorities. He argued that if the government genuinely wanted him back, it could have brought him to India years ago. He maintained that his continued stay abroad is due to security concerns and what he described as politically motivated allegations.
Modi also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that his name is repeatedly used during election campaigns because of cricket’s popularity among Indians. He alleged that political attacks against him are often aimed at influencing public sentiment.
The former IPL chief further claimed that leaders in the Congress-led UPA government attempted to create obstacles for the IPL, particularly during the 2009 season, eventually forcing the tournament to be shifted to South Africa.
Revisiting the Kochi IPL franchise controversy, Modi alleged that senior Congress leaders tried to pressure him during the dispute and claimed that former minister Shashi Tharoor contacted him over questions surrounding the franchise’s ownership structure.
Despite criticising several political leaders, Modi spoke positively about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying their interactions were focused on cricket infrastructure and sports development.
He also revealed that a biopic on his life is being developed and claimed actor Ranveer Singh has shown interest in playing him. On returning to India, Modi suggested it is not currently among his priorities.
