The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to take some action on charges against suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi in a special general meeting (SGM) on July 3. BCCI Honourary Secretary N Srinivasan has sent a letter to all state cricket associations asking them to attend the meeting. The disciplinary committee for holding an inquiry against Modi would also be reconstituted at the SGM, the letter said.
Media reports said Modi might be expelled from BCCI if a vote against him was passed with a three-fourths majority. If Modi is expelled, he will not be allowed to hold any position or office, nor can he be admitted in any committee or made a member or an associate member of BCCI.
The expulsion, if it takes place, will be for a minimum three years, after which the expelled administrator can be readmitted by BCCI at a general meeting. Again, this would require support from three-fourths of those voting on the same, according to the memorandum.
Reports also said BCCI President Shashank Manohar might recuse himself from the disciplinary committee that would hold the inquiry against Modi. The suspended chairman had sent a letter to Manohar requesting him and Srinivasan to exclude themselves from the decision-making process relating to the first showcause notice issued to him.
Modi was slapped a showcause notice and suspended from all positions in BCCI, including as chairman and commissioner of its sub-committee of IPL, on April 25, soon after the conclusion of the final of the Twenty20 league. Modi was accused of financial irregularities in the conduct of the league as well as rigging the bids for franchisees. He responded to the notice with a reply running into more than 10,000 pages.
BCCI issued him a second showcause notice — based on an email from the England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Giles Clarke — which accused him of trying to destroy the structure of world and Indian cricket. Modi reacted to this with a 24-page reply.
The third and last notice issued to him related to alleged irregularities in the awarding of theatrical rights and 150-second commercial slots in between balls during the telecast of IPL 3 matches. He responded to this final notice a few days ago with a 50-page reply and supporting documents.
