If controversy had to pick its favourite child, then Lalit Modi would be among the front runners. The man who, according to many, changed the landscape of cricket, finds himself in troubled waters yet again. The charge this time around is embezzlement of funds.
In the world of Indian cricket, a sum of Rs 22 lakh is a paltry sum. But when we are talking about Modi, there is no such thing as paltry. The district units of Rajasthan Cricket Association have levelled the charges in an attempt to have him removed from the post of the president.
A graduate in sports management from a US University, Modi comes from a well-known business family which has interests mainly in the tobacco industry. Modi had a controversial life as a student as well. He was charged — and pleaded guilty — to charges against possession of cocaine as well as assault.
It was in 1996, when Modi first made his presence felt in Indian cricket circles. With his company Modi Entertainment Networks, he helped ESPN to acquire television rights for cricket across the world. It was during this time only, when the idea of creating a league with international cricketers came to his mind. But, the BCCI was a bit reluctant to carry forward the idea.
Twelve years later, with Modi running the show, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was launched and immediately catapulted Modi as one of the most influential man in world cricket.
The idea of cheerleaders, big name cricket stars, along with celebrities as owners, was a huge money-spinner for the game in the country which knows no boundaries when it comes to fan following.
With the IPL, the broadcaster found the ideal platform to garner eyeballs, the advertisers were exposed to a whole new ball-game while the cricketers earned exorbitant amounts of money. And, of course, Modi was the man pulling all the strings behind the scenes.
Some call him an eccentric genius, a man who is determined to leave an inedible mark on the world of cricket. Former England captain Michael Atherton called him “the most ruthless man in world cricket”. While the BCCI always was a money-spinning machine, under Modi it has become a monster which dwarfs every other sport in the country by a mile.
Since Modi joined the BCCI in 2005 as its vice-president, he has successfully negotiated deals worth thousands of crores. The main ones being the team sponsorship deal with Sahara, an apparel deal with Nike, the media rights deal with Nimbus and, of course, all the deals associated with the IPL.
The second season of the IPL has just begun and the auction prices suggest IPL is as recession-proof as Modi always claimed it was.
In his personal life, Modi is known to have a passion for the good things in life. His association with the bigwigs of the entertainment industry is well-documented and he remains a larger than life figure.
As for the recent controversy, questions will be raised on the future of IPL if Modi is found guilty. Modi, on his part, however, has denied all charges. Even if he is cleared of all the charges, you can be sure that the next controversy is lurking just around the corner. After all, it has to keep a close eye on its favourite child!
