The trouble appears to be mounting for former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi, with the Enforcement Directorate deciding to approach court for issuing a non-bailable warrant against him.
According to sources, the ED will soon approach the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court of issuance of non-bailable warrants against the former IPL czar.
This came days after the agency had summoned the former IPL commissioner to appear before it for questioning. The deadline was, however, defied by Lalit Modi.
The ED had said that the summons were considered issued even though Lalit Modi’s lawyers claimed that they were yet to receive the same.
The case relates to a 2008 deal between World Sports Group (WSG) and Multi Screen Media (MSM) for television rights of Indian Premier League (IPL) worth Rs 425 crore.
In 2008, BCCI had awarded media rights for ten years to WSG for $918 million. WSG entered into a deal with MSM to make Sony the official broadcaster. The contract was replaced a year later with a nine-year deal where MSM paid $1.63 billion.
The ED started a probe in 2009 under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to investigate whether payment of Rs 425 crore facilitation fee by MSM Singapore to WSG Mauritius was made illegally.
