The process to get Indian Premier League founder Lalit Modi back to India has begun. On Wednesday, a designated court for the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Mumbai gave the green light to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application to open the extradition proceedings for Modi, who is reportedly in the United Kingdom for close to six years now.
A PMLA court allowed the ED to send a Letter of Request to the UK for execution of NBW (Non-Bailable Warrant) against Lalit Modi, according to a Press Trust of India update on Wednesday evening.
Modi, who is still the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, is wanted for corruption that accounts to misconduct, indiscipline and financial irregularities. He was given a life ban by the BCCI in 2013 after being found guilty of money laundering charges.
With the PMLA go-ahead, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) needs to put forward the application to concerned authorities in the United Kingdom to take further steps in bringing Lalit Modi back to India, where he is wanted for questioning.
"We need his presence to question him and seek clarification on several aspects in the probe. For this, we have to initiate the process," advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, counsel for the ED, said.
According to reports, Modi will be questioned by the ED on the controversial deal he made for media rights during the IPL seasons. It has been alleged that the cricket administrator laundered around Rs 425 crore from that deal. Modi had reportedly entered into separate agreements with two companies -- Multi Screen Media (Singapore) Ltd and World Sports Group (WSG) -- for the IPL broadcast media rights.
