IPL security agency moves on threat to Modi

Nicholls & Steyn, the IPL's South African security agency, have said that they have taken necessary precautions to protect Lalit Modi after reports surfaced in the Indian media of an alleged threat to the IPL chairman's life from the Indian underworld, during the month-long tournament starting on Saturday.

According to the media reports, an aide of Dawood Ibrahim, a wanted Indian criminal, has targetted Modi for a variety of reasons, including Modi's refusal to pay an unspecified extortion amount, shutting the door on Pakistan players in the tournament and shifting the IPL to South Africa, a move that could reportedly cost the gang, commonly referred to as D-Company, millions of dollars in re-organising their betting operations.

Bob Nicholls, who jointly heads Nicholls & Steyn, said the agency has moved to tackle the threat to Modi. "We are aware of it and we have taken the necessary precautions. I'm not going into any details on that," Nicholls told Cricinfo.

The Times of India reported that Modi's name figured on a hitlist issued by Chhota Shakeel, Ibrahim's aide, which was revealed to police officials after they arrested a gang-member in Karnataka last month. But Mid-Day, a Mumbai-based tabloid, reported that security agencies had intercepted a phone call from the gang, the transcript of which shows that orders have been issued to target Modi either in India or South Africa during the IPL.

A copy of the intelligence report (which highlights the threat) has been forwarded to Mumbai police commissioner's office on March 24 last month, Mid-Day claimed. Local police have also increased the security cover for Modi's Mumbai residence, the reports said.

"I do not want to discuss anything on this issue," Modi was quoted by Mid-Day as saying from South Africa.

Nicholls & Steyn have been entrusted with managing the IPL's security in South Africa, and Nicholls had said last week that the lack of time, the crime rate in South African cities and the elections in the country on April 22 were some of their main challenges.