Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has revived the controversy surrounding the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise, alleging that powerful figures in the then UPA government exerted pressure on him after he questioned the ownership structure of the IPL team and the role of Sunanda Pushkar.
In a wide-ranging interview with ANI, Modi claimed that his opposition to the Kochi consortium’s shareholding model triggered a political backlash that eventually isolated him. He alleged that senior Congress leaders intervened on behalf of then Union minister Shashi Tharoor as questions emerged over the franchise’s equity distribution.
Asked who was backing Tharoor at the time, Modi replied: “Sonia Gandhi. All guns were trained on me from every side.” He further claimed that he received calls from senior Congress leaders, including Ahmed Patel and Pranab Mukherjee, as the dispute escalated.
Lalit Modi questions Kochi franchise equity structure
According to Modi, concerns arose when he examined the financial arrangement behind the Kochi franchise, which won the IPL expansion bid with an offer of around $350 million.
Recalling discussions with consortium members, Modi alleged that he was troubled by the allocation of equity to Sunanda Pushkar.
“All the shareholders were there except for the lady, Sunanda Pushkar. You’re giving away 25 per cent shares to a lady called Sunanda Pushkar. Who is she? You’re giving up 15 per cent of the revenue. Who is she?” he said.
Modi argued that the financial structure was unsustainable and claimed he had warned stakeholders that the model would eventually collapse.
“For her 10-rupee share, on the day she got the team, it was worth 1 lakh rupees. Their 10-rupee share was worth 1 paisa. I knew this was going to collapse. And what happened? Two years down the line, it did,” he alleged.
Claims of confrontation with Shashi Tharoor
Modi also recounted what he described as a tense exchange with Tharoor while the franchise agreement was awaiting approval.
He claimed that during discussions over the ownership structure, he received a phone call from Tharoor, who was then Minister of State for External Affairs.
“I get a call from Shashi Tharoor on the phone,” Modi said, alleging that Tharoor asked him not to pursue questions about Pushkar.
Modi further claimed that he refused to sign the agreement until he received clarity about the shareholders involved in the consortium.
He also alleged that the standoff reached a climax during a late-night meeting in Bengaluru, where pressure mounted on him to clear the franchise despite his objections.
BCCI signing and Kochi franchise fallout
Modi alleged that then BCCI president Shashank Manohar later instructed him to sign the franchise agreement immediately despite his reservations.
“I told him, ‘Shashank, I will sign this agreement under duress. And I will note it on the document that the President is forcing me to sign.’ And I did note it,” Modi claimed.
The Kochi franchise entered the IPL and played only one season in 2011, finishing eighth among ten teams. The Board of Control for Cricket in India later terminated the franchise in 2011.
The controversy had wider political ramifications as well. Tharoor resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs in April 2010 amid the row over the Kochi franchise and allegations linked to the team’s ownership structure.
Lalit Modi recalls Sunanda Pushkar and Sushma Swaraj episodes
Speaking about his interactions with Sunanda Pushkar, Modi claimed they communicated on Twitter before her death in 2014 and said he never met her in person.
“That morning, Sunanda was communicating with me on Twitter… she said, ‘Should I disclose?’ I said, ‘Go ahead and disclose,'” he said.
Modi also addressed criticism surrounding the assistance he received from late Union minister Sushma Swaraj in obtaining emergency travel documents while his passport was under challenge.
Describing it as a personal and humanitarian matter, Modi said he sought help while his wife was undergoing treatment for a brain tumour in Portugal.
“When it comes to family, what did I ask? My wife was going through surgery, and the tumour was not waiting,” he said, adding that he used his personal contacts during what he described as one of the most difficult periods of his life.