30 January,2009 05:15 PM IST | | PTI
Rajasthan Cricket Association President Lalit Modi today hit back at his detractors for levelling "baseless" charges against him and said he will himself resign from his post if proven guilty.
"These cases have no value at all. But there is so much kichad (mud) I want to get rid of this once and for all. I am saying take my thumb impression and send it to forensic lab. I will resign if I am proven guilty," Modi said.
Modi was referring to the FIR lodged against him into an alleged forgery case of grabbing a piece of land in Nagaur. Police registered the case against Modi under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120 B of IPC and initiated an inquiry into the allegations.
"I have close to Rs 230 crore deal in the Indian Premier League. I don't even charge a single penny as TA/DA. Why should I get involved in such scams," said the IPL Chairman and Commissioner.
"The cricket establishment is with me but those who are not involved in cricket, who are not working are the ones agitating. They are all jealous people who are behind this," he added.
Modi blamed his predecessor Kishore Rungta of trying to benefit by the change in regime in the state but said he was sure that would not happen.
"It's the Rungta faction which is trying to use politics, the change in regime in the state to their benefit. They think they can dictate terms like this. But I am sure Mr Ashok Gehlot will understand and he won't let that happen. I have worked with multiple regimes in Rajasthan and many other states but I had no problems ever," Modi said.
Hoping to put an end to controversies and cases against him, Modi has also appointed a three-member arbitration tribunal to look into the contentious issues raised by some district associations and decide if he is fit to continue at the post.
The arbitrators comprised retired Supreme Court Chief Justice R C Lahoti, retired apex court Justices Kuldeep Singh and A R Lakshmanan.
Modi is in danger of being stripped of absolute powers he was enjoying as the RCA President as about 24 of the 32 district units, including that of Secretary Subhash Joshi, handed a memorandum to Registrar of Societies.
Asked how much time the committee would take to complete its probe, Modi said "as soon as possible. There is no time limit to it. Let me clean it up once and for all. I don't want to deal with it on day-to-day basis".
Modi met Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh in the morning but denied that it had any political overtones.
"We have a long family association and I have been visiting him since I was a child. It had nothing to do with my cricket related cases," he said.