Modi at risk of losing his passport

Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, has been sent a show cause by the passport office in Mumbai asking him to justify why his passport should not be revoked, according to the Hindustan Times. Modi has 15 days to respond to the notice, which was sent after the Enforcement Directorate [ED], a department of the Finance Ministry that handles allegations of financial irregularity, requested the cancellation of his passport in a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Mehmood Abdi, Modi's lawyer, told ESPNcricinfo that neither he nor his client has received any notices from the ED or the passport office. "Lalit Modi has been cooperating with ED in the best possible manner i.e. through his constituted attorney and lawyers. Each and every summons has been timely responded; all documents and explanations called for have been provided to ED."

Abdi added that taking away someone's passport was a strong step that threatens Modi's personal liberty, and therefore should not be taken lightly. He also reiterated that Modi's absence from India is due to a "grave and elevated threat perception of his life."

The ED is examining whether Modi violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act during his time as IPL chairman. Last week the directorate issued a blue corner alert for Modi, which makes it mandatory for law-enforcement agencies around the world to detain him wherever they spot him and inform the ED accordingly. Modi has denied receiving that notice as well.

The Chennai police have also registered a case against Lalit Modi and six others on allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating and falsification of accounts, according to a report in the Hindu. The case is based on a criminal complaint filed by the BCCI on Wednesday.