Modi willing to cooperate with Enforcement Directorate
Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has said he is willing to answer any questions the Enforcement Directorate has for him
ESPNcricinfo staff
09-Oct-2010
Lalit Modi says he can't come back to India because of threats against his life • Getty Images
Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, has said he is willing to answer any questions the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a department of India's Ministry of Finance, might have for him, either in person in London or through video conferencing with officials in India. Modi, however, denied that a show-cause notice alleging foreign exchange violations had been served on him by the directorate.
"The Enforcement Directorate had addressed communications to Modi to present himself with documents," Modi's office said in a statement quoted by PTI. "He has always co-operated with the department. He has furnished the Enforcement Directorate with copies of all required documents which were available with him.
"He had also informed the Enforcement Directorate that he had been advised not to travel to India on account of an elevated threat perception to his life and had given particulars of the same."
The statement was released in response to reports that the ED had issued a "Light Blue Alert Notice", which tells law enforcement agencies around the world to detain Modi wherever they spot him, and inform the ED accordingly.
According to the Hindustan Times, the notice contends that Modi committed violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act while in charge of the IPL, and has subsequently been stalling the investigation by refusing to comply with requests made by the directorate.
The BCCI formally removed Lalit Modi from all its operations at its annual general meeting last month. The board had suspended Modi immediately following the conclusion of IPL 3 in April, and charged him with a number of financial irregularities.