In a decisive ruling, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition by former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, labeling it as “misconceived” and slapping him with ₹1 lakh in costs. The amount is to be donated to Tata Memorial Hospital.
The petition sought to compel the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to cover a ₹10.65 crore penalty imposed on Modi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The fine stemmed from violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) during the 2009 Indian Premier League held in South Africa.
A bench comprising Justice MS Sonak and Justice Jitendra Jain rejected the plea outright, declaring the relief sought as “frivolous and not maintainable.”
“No writ can be issued against the BCCI in this context, as it is not discharging any public function,” the court stated, emphasizing that the demand for indemnification by the BCCI was baseless. The judges pointed out that penalties levied by the ED under FEMA do not obligate private entities to shoulder financial responsibilities for individuals.
This case is part of a broader ED investigation into the IPL’s 2009 season, where over ₹243 crore was allegedly funneled out of India in violation of FEMA. Modi’s penalty, a fraction of the total ₹121.56 crore levied on multiple parties, including the BCCI and its former chairman N Srinivasan, became the crux of his petition.
The court’s sharp response underlines the limitations of private individuals attempting to leverage public mandates for personal liabilities. The dismissal serves as a stark reminder of accountability amid ongoing scrutiny of the IPL’s financial dealings.
