Mumbai-Despite the income tax raids on the Indian Premier League (IPL) offices in Mumbai on Thursday, IPL chief Lalit Modi was surprisingly upbeat and even aggressive all through Friday. There's a good reason for that. His godfather, Sharad Pawar, is set to rescue him yet again, says a DNA report.
Modi is believed to have had a chat with former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Pawar before the latter left for an International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai. Indications are that Pawar, who wields considerable influence in the BCCI, has thrown his weight behind Modi. Pawar, in Dubai, could not be reached for a comment.
He came out in favour of Modi on Thursday. Given this support, Modi could afford to put up a brave front on Friday. "There is no provision for a co-chairman in the BCCI constitution," he said, reacting to speculation that BCCI president Shashank Manohar could be given that role. He conceded that there were differences among his colleagues over his functioning but he said that "we will address the issue".
On Friday, the two most powerful men in the BCCI — Manohar and secretary N Srinivasan — met in Dharamshala but the outcome of the meeting was not known. Even Modi was present at the newest IPL venue but he was believed to be staying at a different hotel. "I have nothing to fear and nothing to hide," Modi told DNA.
But Modi upped the ante on Tharoor saying the minister has a hidden agenda. "I will not allow Tharoor to shadow this up. He has a different agenda and his agenda will be shut down, believe me. We are doing the best we can and will continue doing so, irrespective of the hidden agendas of different people. We will not allow them to derail our process," said Modi, hinting that Tharoor wanted to move the team out to Abu Dhabi.
To why he was targeting Pushkar, he said: "No, I am not. It is just that Sunanda Pushkar is being linked and found out about. I am sure other names will come out sooner of later. It is not about her. We did not know who she was and we don't care who she is. All we are concerned about is that the shareholders themselves did not know who she was. And that is what worries me."
