Modi threatens to shift IPL matches from Jaipur

The India Premier League (IPL) boss Lalit Modi, who is accused of cheating and forgery by his opponents, has now threatened to pull out IPL matches from Jaipur if what he calls a "political witch-hunt" goes on.

Modi, who launched a ferocious counter-attack at his detractors at a media conference on Monday, said: "We may re-consider matches in Jaipur. This entire episode is political witch-hunt. We are looking at alternatives."

The latest controversy engulfing Modi is alleged misappropriation of funds after the Jaipur blasts last year. Modi handed over a cheque of Rs 6 crore to then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. An FIR has been lodged against him alleging funds didn't reach the victims.

"The FIR against me specifically in relation to IPL yesterday is ill-conceived and looks to be politically motivated. Nowhere are complaints registered in the morning and turned into FIRs in the afternoon," Modi said.

"Every time they file one it is without substance," he fumed.

He said the IPL was only a facilitator towards donating the Rs 6 crore promised by the League's franchises and other sponsors and it cannot be held responsible for any lapses.

"Already a sum of Rs 5.2 crore has been deposited into the CM's Relief Fund and others who had pledged to do so in the wake of the Jaipur bomb blast, I'm told, are doing so," said Modi, also President of Rajasthan Cricket Association.

"We all felt sorry for what happened and wanted to help. The IPL is only a facilitator."

Modi, who is facing a stiff challenge to stay on as President of the Rajasthan Cricket Association has also been accused of a fraud in a land deal.

Modi said Rajasthan Royals, by virtue of winning the IPL in the first season, were given the choice of hosting the final at a venue of their choice and they have opted for Mumbai and specifically the Cricket Club of India.

"From this year the IPL would be directly dealing with the final and semifinals and we have a revenue sharing formula with the franchises. Rajasthan Royals have opted for Mumbai to host the final and their first choice is CCI and the second option we have given is D Y Patil Stadium (in Navi Mumbai)," he said.

The IPL chairman said in case the CCI, which is to decide on the issue through an EGM on February 27, is ruled out and Royals do not want to host it at D Y Patil then they can conduct the match outside Mumbai.

As per their contractual obligations with sponsors, a major chunk of the CCI pavilion seats would have to be reserved for the IPL which is against the existing CCI constitution, according to Modi.

"That's why they are having the EGM. We have told them we would give their members 5000 seats in the West Stand but we need a major chunk of seats in the pavilion for ourselves to fulfill out contractual obligations with franchises and sponsors," he said.

Modi said as far as league ties were concerned, the respective franchises will take away the entire gate collections and they were fully authorised to deal with the match staging authorities like the CCI.

"For hosting their seven home matches the Mumbai Indians have the option of playing them at the CCI or D Y Patil as per their discretion. Their requirement is very different to ours (IPL's). All the revenues (of league ties) would go to team owners," he said.

Modi said currently IPL was looking at 11 venues, two in Mumbai and one each in other seven home cities of the franchisees, apart from Cuttack and Ahmedabad. "Currently there are 11 venues. There are two in Mumbai and one each in other seven cities (Jaipur, Chennai, Mohali, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad). One franchise is looking out for another venue within India or overseas," he said.

The IPL chief said the venues for hosting the second IPL season in April-May would be decided soon. "In the next few days they would be decided," he said.

He also said that Chennai Super Kings, by virtue of having finished runners-up, have the option of staging the two semifinals in the second season and they have decided to stage both in their home city.

Modi said that the IPL would resolve the dispute between Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group-controlled BIG TV, which has withdrawn from its partnership with the IPL as its ground sponsors, and the League's broadcast rights holders Sony Entertainment Television by tomorrow.

"I don't know the details, but we hope we can settle it by tomorrow. We cannot allow our ground sponsors getting an unfair deal on air. We will go to the bottom of this. Sony has to comply with our contractual obligations," he said.

BIG TV has complained to the IPL that SET has decided to offer the contract to its competitor Bharti Airtel despite the latter having quoted a lower price for on-air agreement.