Modi may be sacked

With several Central agencies vying to haul the IPL commissioner, Mr Lalit Modi, over the coals in the controversy regarding the Indian Premier League, it could possibly be the end of his innings in cricket: his wings are likely to be clipped by the BCCI panel. Sources said the BCCI president, Mr Shashank Manohar, could be the man to replace Mr Modi as the head of the IPL.

Mr Modi may be asked to step down at a meeting of the IPL governing council likely on April 26. It has been learnt that if he refuses to step down, the BCCI will convene an emergency AGM and pass a resolution to oust the IPL commissioner. Mr Modi has reportedly not been invited for that meeting.

Meanwhile, apart from the income-tax department, officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) will question Mr Modi, sources said. The move comes in the wake of reported allegations that a few IPL officials might be engaged in betting on international websites.

Mr Modi, who had been to Dubai to meet the Kochi franchise consortium chairman, Mr Harshad Mehta, on Sunday, was to meet I-T officials at his Worli office in Mumbai on Monday.