BCCI suspends Modi over IPL scam

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended its vice-president and Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi for alleged financial impropriety. As planned, the Board waited for the IPL final to be over and within minutes of the prize distribution ceremony at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, it announced Modi's suspension and a show cause notice to him. Modi made an emotional speech from the presentation ceremony dais after the IPL final, saying that IPL is clean and transparent. I am speaking as IPL commissioner and the captain of the team. IPL has been unfortunately surrounded with off-field dramas. The recent happenings are only based on innuendoes, half truths and motivated leaks from all sides. I assure you all decisions are jointly taken by the GC (governing council) and were approved by the general body in the first and the second year of IPL, he said. An official said on the condition of anonymity that the Board was under pressure from higher-ups to get rid of Modi come what may and there was little it could do. Modi this afternoon issued a notice to all GC members that he would preside over the meeting and members could give it in writing their allegations against him as well as any other member. The board official argued that the president has the power to suspend Modi using the Boards constitutional provisions. The Modi camp appeared to have anticipated the move and a source close to him said the Boards hasty action would take the issue to a court.