Third notice to Modi shows Board's lack of homework

With Lalit Modi being served a third notice by the Indian cricket board yesterday, it's becoming increasingly clear that the suspended IPL commissioner is in it for a long haul. On the other hand, that the Board of Control for Cricket in India have had to serve repeated showcause notices also proves that the officials had not done a through homework when they decided to take action against Modi for the first time.

Former BCCI treasurer, Kishore Rungta feels that it shows that the BCCI acted in haste.

"What the BCCI should have done is consolidated all the issues and given one showcause notice covering all the issues. It would have looked better in public perception," the former BCCI treasurer told MiD DAY yesterday.

"But the BCCI looked in a great hurry to suspend him (Modi) at the conclusion of the IPL and issued a show cause notice," said Rungta.

"Now, when they are doing the homework properly, they must be finding that there is more to it and hence are issuing notices one by one," added Rungta.

The third notice was served to Modi on the day he is due to reply to the second notice.

The third notice is over the granting of theatrical rights last November for the third season of the tournament.
It involves the Rs 330-crore ($71.2 million) deal last November with Entertainment & Sports Direct (ESD) for the global theatrical rights for 10 seasons of league matches starting with the 2010 season.

However, Rungta agreed that despite the delay, Modi would have to reply to all the showcause notices served to him.

"He should respond to it and should be able to answer the Board's questions and provide proof that he's in the right," said Rungta. "My only fear is that BCCI is not indulging in a witch-hunt," he added.