Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has defended his extravagant lifestyle and rejected allegations against him, saying the sums he has been accused of misusing are insignificant compared to the wealth generated by his family’s business empire.
Speaking to ANI in London, Modi said he had “done nothing wrong” and maintained that the legal cases against him in India have no basis. The former cricket administrator, who has lived outside India for years, used the interview to push back against criticism over his wealth, spending habits and public image.
Describing himself as someone born into immense privilege, Modi said he sees no reason to alter the lifestyle he has led throughout his life. He argued that allegations involving a few crores of rupees make little sense given the scale of the business interests associated with his family.
“I have done nothing wrong….I told you I was born with a diamond spoon. When you accuse me of taking few crore rupees, I make more than that a day in my life. We are the biggest…company is globally big. It’s a two-and-a-half lakh crore market capitalised value,” he said.
He said the family business is valued in lakhs of crores and claimed he personally built successful ventures outside the family’s established enterprises. According to Modi, much of the wealth he spends today comes from businesses he helped create rather than inherited assets.
Lalit Modi says he built businesses independently
During the interview, Modi pointed to ventures such as Modi Entertainment Networks as examples of businesses he developed himself.
“I made hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars in my life,” he said, arguing that he should be free to spend money earned through his own entrepreneurial efforts.
Modi also said he has transferred ownership of family business interests to his children and jokingly described himself as a “kept father” supported by them.
“I’m part of it. I own the business. I gifted it to my children. My children own it. I’m a kept father by my children. I live in a beautiful home. I live the biggest life. I go everywhere. How do you think I do it? What is this thing? I took Rs 10 or Rs 12 crores of money..it won’t last me a week….It is what it is. I was born with it. Why would I change my lifestyle for anybody? Why would I live my life for anybody else? My grandfather didn’t live it. My father didn’t live it for anybody else,” he added.
Calls Vijay Mallya a friend
Responding to a question about businessman Vijay Mallya, Modi described him as a friend but said their situations were different.
According to Modi, Mallya’s legal issues were linked to banks and borrowing, whereas his own businesses did not depend on loans, government contracts or public money. He said his business interests were rooted in consumer brands and manufacturing.
IPL founder remains under scrutiny
Modi remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in Indian cricket administration. He was the architect of the Indian Premier League and served as its founding chairman and commissioner from 2008 to 2010.
In 2013, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed a lifetime ban on him on charges of indiscipline and misconduct.
He also faces an alleged money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate.