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Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-5.html
Page last updated at 06:17 GMT, Friday, 23 April 2010 07:17 UK
India IPL chief Lalit Modi probed over corruption
IPL boss Lalit Modi is under pressure
Investigators have questioned the chief of the Indian Premier League
(IPL) over allegations of corruption linked to the lucrative cricket
tournament.
Reports say tax and foreign exchange officials interrogated Lalit Modi
for hours - he denies any wrongdoing.
Separately, government investigations continued into the teams,
sponsors, broadcasters and event managers associated with the event.
The IPL features some of the world's top cricketers.
Tax officials have already searched the offices of IPL teams Kolkata
Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers in Delhi, Kings XI
in Chandigarh and the yet unnamed team owned by Sahara.
Correspondents say the allegations of sleaze, illegal betting,
favouritism and money laundering have gripped the nation in recent
days.
The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says this is the worst crisis in
Indian cricket since the match-fixing scandal involving senior
national players in 2000.
Cricket board conflict
Separately Mr Modi has also questioned the right of the Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - which also runs the IPL- to
convene a meeting on Monday where, according to reports, a number of a
members may ask him to step down.
But there have been questions about the impartiality of the board.
India's Sports Minister MS Gill said there was a question of conflict
of interest for certain people who have interests in both the BCCI and
the IPL: one selector is a brand ambassador for an IPL team, while
another board member owns an IPL team.
"You can't be regulator, controller, owner of the team you are
creating," Mr Gill said.
He said the government was giving tax concessions to the IPL and
providing security for the matches.
"You have to charge from people benefiting commercially," he said.
The allegations were sparked off by a row between the IPL
commissioner, Lalit Modi, and a government minister, Shashi Tharoor,
over the ownership of a new IPL franchise.
Mr Tharoor was forced to resign after Mr Modi revealed that a close
female friend of the minister was one of the stakeholders of the team
for Kochi Mr Tharoor helped to set up.
Mr Tharoor denies any wrongdoing.
The IPL has become a multi-billion dollar industry, which attracts
some of India's wealthiest businessmen and women.
SEE ALSO
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8631407.stm
20 Apr 10 | South Asia
India orders IPL financing probe
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8630280.stm
19 Apr 10 | South Asia
IPL semis switched after blasts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/8628079.stm
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'Bomb' targets India cricket game
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8626992.stm
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IPL under way amid security fears
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8563584.stm
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8638958.stm
Video: Income Tax officials visit broadcasters' offices NDTV.com
Watch Video
http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=India
IPL under radar, it’s time BCCI answers to India: Gill
TNN, Apr 23, 2010, 02.56am IST
Tags:BCCI|Rajya Sabha|IPL mess
NEW DELHI: As the Opposition in Rajya Sabha demanded clearing the IPL
mess — ranging from use of cheergirls and drinking in stadiums to tax
exemption to BCCI — the government on Thursday said it was watching
the scene "very carefully" and it was time BCCI was made "accountable"
to the country.
"IPL is under the radar, we are watching very carefully. Its affairs
are being looked into with great detail," sports and youth affairs
minister M S Gill said in the Upper House while replying to a debate
on the working of his ministry.
Putting BCCI in the line of fire by charging it with taking over
"everything" to do with cricket after it got rich in the last 10-15
years, Gill said it was time the Board "answers to India". Referring
to members’ concern over the issue of giving tax exemptions to BCCI —
one of the richest sports bodies in the world — the minister
questioned the issue, saying there should be no let-off for anybody.
He also said BCCI could not be a regulator as also owner of the Indian
team as there was a conflict of interest. Pressed by members to clear
government’s stand over IPL, Gill said finance minister Pranab
Mukherjee has already assured Parliament that his ministry would "get
to the bottom of every angle and every aspect" of IPL.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IPL-under-radar-its-time-BCCI-answers-to-India-Gill/articleshow/5846563.cms
Former cricket board chief moves court on IPL franchise norms
23 Apr 2010, 0055 hrs IST,IANS
Topics:Lalit Modi Sharad Pawar Indian Premier League Cricket in India
Supreme Court Commissioner Shashank Manohar Board of Control for
Cricket in India
NEW DELHI: The former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI), A.C. Muthiah, Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging
the
norms that permit office bearers to hold franchises for Indian Premier
League (IPL).
The noted Chennai-based industrialist has challenged the decision of
the single-judge bench of the Madras High Court that had earlier
dismissed his plea.
Muthiah, as also IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, have also challenged the
legality of the April 26 meeting of the governing council of the IPL
cricketing extravaganza, saying there was conflict of interest over
the person who has convened it.
The court's intervention has been specifically sought in the wake of
India Cements Ltd, which is led by BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan, being
allowed to own the franchise for the Chennai IPL team.
"Srinivasan is an interested party and I will file a case against him
for conflict of interest. He is a secretary and a holder of franchise.
He has no right to call for a meeting," Muthiah had said Thursday.
"I think to a large extent, the members of BCCI have consciously
allowed themselves to be exploited by certain groups by amending the
byelaws of the society. BCCI must ensure all those who have some stake
or interest either directly or indirectly should be kept away."
The president of the cricket board, however, has said both the charges
were untenable and that the meeting of the governing council, called
amid nationwide tax probe on the Indian Premier League (IPL) and its
franchises, will go ahead as scheduled.
"Under the board constitution, the secretary is the convenor of all
meetings. Even today I don't convene a meeting, being the board
president," BCCI president Shashank Manohar said at the board's
headquarters in Mumbai Thursday.
Maintaining that then BCCI president and Agriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar had given an okay to India Cements to bid for IPL, Manohar
slammed the IPL commissioner Modi for not declaring to the governing
council that his own relatives were part owners of IPL teams.
"It is not that Srinivasan is bidding. It is India Cements company
which is bidding and it is a public limited company," Manohar told
reporters with the India Cements vice chairman and managing director
by his side.
"It is most unfair to say Srinivasan was a declared bidder. If Modi
and his other relatives had a share in any of the franchises, he ought
to have declared it at the meeting," the BCCI chief maintained.
Other stories in this section
Shashank Manohar all set to become interim chief
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Shashank-Manohar-all-set-to-become-interim-chief/articleshow/5846941.cms
'Indian mathematics loved numbers'
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Indian-mathematics-loved-numbers/articleshow/5846533.cms
A Hussain work at Rs 1,000!
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/A-Hussain-work-at-Rs-1000/articleshow/5846473.cms
Mrs Praful Patel, Venugopal Dhoot flew with Modi
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Mrs-Praful-Patel-Venugopal-Dhoot-flew-with-Modi/articleshow/5846480.cms
Payment legal, says WSG boss
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Payment-legal-says-WSG-boss/articleshow/5846466.cms
Mr Modi had a run-in with the home ministry during the second edition
of the IPL last year. Mr Chidambaram had asked the IPL commissioner to
either
postpone the tournament or hold it in two parts because IPL 2009
coincided with the general elections, making it difficult for the
police to provide adequate security.
“We could have done it in two parts if they (IPL officers) had only
reflected on the concerns of the local police and not tried to
pressurise the state chief ministers,” Mr Chidambaram had told a
private TV channel last year during the controversy.
He had also stated in the same interview that there were no “ego
clashes” with Mr Modi, as had been suggested. “Where is the ego. I am
too small a person to be compared to Mr Modi. The point is that they
did not try to understand the compulsions and concerns of the police
force.”
But, instead of postponing the event or agreeing to the government’s
suggestion to hold the tournament in two parts, Mr Modi shifted the
IPL to South Africa. There were no immediate repercussions for Mr
Modi, but it may have left him short of goodwill in the UPA
dispensation.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Former-cricket-board-chief-moves-court-on-IPL-franchise-norms/articleshow/5848039.cms
P Chidambaram pads up to head IPL probe
23 Apr 2010, 0700 hrs IST,Rohini Singh,ET Bureau
Topics:IPL Twenty20 Shashi Tharoor P Chidambaram Income Tax
NEW DELHI: Home minister P Chidambaram has a new challenge on his
hands besides the onerous responsibilities of tackling the
depredations of the
Naxalites and the urban terrorism of jehadis.
The prime minister has asked his trusted lieutenant to spearhead the
probe into the popular but seemingly scandal-ridden Indian Premier
League, or IPL.
The Twenty20 tournament, the third edition of which will conclude on
Sunday, has been dogged by allegations of money laundering, unclear
ownership and sweetheart deals. More ominously, the shadow of match-
fixing, a constant blight of Indian cricket since the mid-1990s, is
looming over the IPL.
A report by the I-T department, which was accessed by ET reporters,
referred to “outcome-fixing” in the first two IPLs. There have been no
reports from the authorities on any such activity in the current one
though.
Top sources in the government told ET that the move indicates the
Centre’s determination to reform the IPL since Mr Chidambaram, a hard
taskmaster with a famously no-nonsense attitude, is widely regarded as
one of the best ministers in the UPA government.
Mr Chidambaram was part of the core group comprising finance minister
Pranab Mukherjee and defence minister AK Anthony that took the final
call to ask Shashi Tharoor, the erstwhile junior minister for external
affairs, to resign.
These sources also said the home minister will work in close co-
ordination with the finance ministry. Investigating agencies like the
income-tax department and the Enforcement Directorate, which are part
of the finance ministry, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have been
asked to delve deeper into the IPL saga.
These agencies will pass on information to the home minister. A text
message to the home minister did not elicit a response.
A spokesperson for the ministry said he wasn’t aware of any such
development. Mr Chidambaram’s earlier stint as finance minister in the
first UPA government will obviously come in handy for this assignment,
said the same sources. A large part of the investigations deal with
complicated shareholding structures of some of the IPL franchisees
that have led the tax authorities to suspect money laundering.
Mr Modi had a run-in with the home ministry during the second edition
of the IPL last year. Mr Chidambaram had asked the IPL commissioner to
either
postpone the tournament or hold it in two parts because IPL 2009
coincided with the general elections, making it difficult for the
police to provide adequate security.
“We could have done it in two parts if they (IPL officers) had only
reflected on the concerns of the local police and not tried to
pressurise the state chief ministers,” Mr Chidambaram had told a
private TV channel last year during the controversy.
He had also stated in the same interview that there were no “ego
clashes” with Mr Modi, as had been suggested. “Where is the ego. I am
too small a person to be compared to Mr Modi. The point is that they
did not try to understand the compulsions and concerns of the police
force.”
But, instead of postponing the event or agreeing to the government’s
suggestion to hold the tournament in two parts, Mr Modi shifted the
IPL to South Africa. There were no immediate repercussions for Mr
Modi, but it may have left him short of goodwill in the UPA
dispensation.
P Chidambaram pads up to head IPL probe
Readers Opinions
Som, Bangalore, says: This Minister seems to be doing all jobs except
the job of a Home Minister.
[23 Apr, 2010 1149hrs IST]
Lost Identity, India, says: Does PC have time to look into this? Our
Naxalite and other challenges are not enough for our dear PC? I guess
Dr has put in PC only to cover up all the big bosses who are involved
and are at the risk of being exposed.
[23 Apr, 2010 0956hrs IST]
arijit, howrah, says: Is the Naxalite problem over in India? Has the
26/11 terrorists and their Pakistani state handlers been brought to
justice yet? Is the Telengana issue sorted out? Is the Indian economy
doing fantastically well and firmly out of the downturns of 2008-09?
The questions come to mind because it seems from the Govt's action
that the important ministers like the Home and Finance have nothing
more important to do than find out scams in IPL!! It seems too obvious
that the govt is trying to pull down one individual by throwing the
entire law and investigating powers it has to bring on eindividual on
his knees. And, all these happened because the individual chose to
take up a issue with one minister in foreign affairs!! This is
entirely a fiasco and the govt is simply trying to protect some of its
partymen and coalition partners by nailing one man.
[23 Apr, 2010 0850hrs IST]
ABC, USA, says: Everything is fine. But I really wonder why do they
share the parliament with such people as Mohammad Azharuddin. He has
been given ticket by congress just for the sake of winnining the
minority votes. But they think he deserves the post as MP then why not
Modi and anybody else....
[23 Apr, 2010 0658hrs IST]
Related Stories
CAB got Rs 2 cr but doesn't know where it came from: Dalmiya
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/CAB-got-Rs-2-cr-but-doesnt-know-where-it-came-from-Dalmiya/articleshow/5845766.cms
Google receives requests from IPL for removing content
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/Google-receives-requests-from-IPL-for-removing-content/articleshow/5844436.cms
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/P-Chidambaram-pads-up-to-head-IPL-probe/articleshow/5846450.cms
Payment legal, says WSG boss
23 Apr 2010, 0153 hrs IST,M Padmakshan,ET Bureau
Topics:IPL Income Tax MSM WSG Venu Nair facilitation fee
MUMBAI: The head of the South Asian business of World Sport Group
(WSG), Venu Nair, has told I-T officials that the “facilitation fee”
of Rs 425
crore was part of an agreement between WSG, which owns the telecasting
rights for IPL, and MSM, the broadcaster of the games.
But tax was not paid in India on the same as the company’s lawyers had
said no such tax was payable, Mr Nair is believed to have told the
taxman.
The Rs 425-crore fee was part of the $1.63 billion MSM had agreed to
pay for the telecasting rights of IPL for nine years. This contract,
which was agreed upon after scrapping an earlier agreement that
stipulated a payment of $918 million, was signed just before the start
of IPL-2 in 2009.
It contained a provision for allocating $80 million as a “facilitation
fee” to a Mauritius-based firm owned by WSG.
According to media reports, Lalit Modi, the embattled IPL commissioner
who is trying to fight off a growing clamour for his ouster, had
negotiated the deal and most of the office-bearers of the BCCI were
not in the know of the “facilitation fee”.
Also Read
→ I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/I-T-to-probe-money-laundering-via-hawala--underworld/articleshow/5846361.cms
→ RoC too digs in, finds disclosures well short of mark'
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/RoC-too-digs-in-finds-disclosures-well-short-of-mark/articleshow/5846393.cms
The conversation between Mr Nair and the revenue authorities was
described to ET by income-tax officials who spoke on condition of
anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. Attempts to reach Mr
Nair on his cellphone proved unsuccessful.
These officials said the entire transaction, including the
facilitation fee, was well documented. Mr Modi has given a copy of the
agreement to the authorities. An I-T source said, “All transactions
are clearly recorded in the documents furnished to us.”
It also appears increasingly likely that despite the media frenzy over
the facilitation fee, the end-result might boil down to a humdrum
dispute over the rather arcane subject of withholding tax. Similar to
tax deduction at source for individuals, Indian residents making
overseas payments have to ‘withhold’ tax before sending the money
offshore.
Sources in the I-T arm that deals with cross-border transactions said
they would send a notice for not paying tax in India on account of the
fee sent to the Mauritius entity. They are also studying the
transaction in detail to determine whether the notice is to be sent to
MSM or WSG for not withholding tax before transferring money to an
overseas destination.
Not withholding tax is an offence under Section 201 of the I-T Act
that can attract interest and in some cases a monetary penalty.
Payment legal, says WSG boss
23 Apr 2010, 0153 hrs IST,M Padmakshan,ET Bureau
Topics:IPL Income Tax MSM WSG Venu Nair facilitation fee
In a statement, WSG expressed its “surprise and disappointment” at the
turn of events. “WSG expresses its surprise and disappointment that
private
media transactions negotiated directly between WSG and other highly-
regarded companies that are primarily for the undisputed benefit of
the BCCI, IPL and its franchise owners, and ultimately for the sport
of cricket in India, should be brought into disrepute in relation to
current matters being reported in the media that are totally and
unequivocally unrelated to WSG and its business dealings with any
other parties. WSG will co-operate fully with any authorities should
they have any queries.”
The premises of WSG and MSM were searched by the I-T sleuths on
Wednesday as part of the ongoing investigation into the financial
affairs of the India Premier League.
Of the $80 million paid by MSM to WSG, a part payment of $26 million
had been transferred from DBS, a Singapore-based bank, to the
Mauritius company associated with WSG in 2009. The issue of whether
tax is required to be withheld from such payments made to overseas
entities came to the fore last year when Korean company Samsung
Electronics moved the Karnataka High Court.
The court, in a controversial decision, held that since the taxpayer
is not an expert in determining whether a particular income is taxable
in India, he is required to withhold tax from all payments made to
overseas entities. But other high courts have taken a different view.
The matter is pending before the Supreme Court.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Payment-legal-says-WSG-boss/articleshow/5846466.cms
RoC too digs in, finds disclosures well short of mark'
23 Apr 2010, 0111 hrs IST,Souvik Sanyal & Dheeraj Tiwari,ET Bureau
Topics:IPL RIL franchisees Registrar of Companies RCB
NEW DELHI: The Registrar of companies (RoC) have found several
shortcomings in the regulatory disclosures made by the Indian Premier
League (IPL)
franchisees.
Latest information regarding equity structure and details on latest
filings such as annual returns and special resolutions have not been
given to the department, said an official with the corporate affairs
ministry.
“The ministry will take any action only after it has the full
details,” he said, requesting anonymity.
The list of franchisees includes Reliance Industries (RIL)-owned
Mumbai Indians and Vijay Mallya-owned Royal Challengers Bangalore
(RCB).
The RoCs have been authorised to get all relevant details from the
franchisee owners to fast track the due diligence process.
“We would be looking for agreements with the IPL, management structure
and details of remuneration given to directors and employees,
including any sweat equity,” the official said.
Notices are being sent to the franchisees asking them to immediately
place on record key documents on their existing management structure
and any changes made to their equity base since incorporation.
As per the Companies Act, firms are required to furnish before the RoC
details of changes in management, annual returns and financial
statements, apart from any key decision taken in their meetings
regarding the firm’s structure and activities.
The ministry of corporate affairs, which has till now maintained that
its inquiry would include analysing information it had in its access,
is likely to cull out information from the franchisee owners.
Minister for corporate affairs Salman Khurshid on Wednesday said that
MCA was scrutinising records of the franchisees. “We cannot just shut
our eyes (to IPL controversy)... We are doing our own due diligence,”
he said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/RoC-too-digs-in-finds-disclosures-well-short-of-mark/articleshow/5846393.cms
I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld
23 Apr 2010, 0053 hrs IST,Deepshikha Sikarwar,ET Bureau
Topics:Lalit Modi IPL underworld Rendezvous Income Tax hawala money
laundering
NEW DELHI: The income-tax department will extend its probe to all
those associated with the Indian Premier League cricket tournament,
including
players, after stumbling upon evidence of money laundering via tax
havens and involvement of underworld dons, said a senior official.
The agency will seek information from other IPL service providers and
players too, aiming to recover lost tax revenue, the person said.
Tax officials have information on fund transfers by those involved in
IPL to overseas bank accounts through recognised banking channels.
There were also informal transactions such as cash paid to a local
agent resulting in a corresponding credit in an overseas account,
known as hawala.
Those non-banking transfers were aimed at evading taxes and some of it
was also illicit money. Some of these funds were brought back as
legitimate from tax havens and have found their way into IPL, the
official said. This process of converting ill-gotten money into
legitimate one is known as money laundering, or round tripping, as
bureaucrats call it.
Rendezvous Sports World, the controversial company that won the bid
for the Kochi team, was probably a conduit to launder money through
overseas transactions, said the official. The department’s doubts
arose since some investors in Rendezvous did not have enough net worth
to become stakeholders. They were probably a front for wealthy
individuals.
The income-tax department that prepared a dossier on Modi last year
believes that he indirectly owns stakes in some franchisees through
his relatives or friends. It had also found fund transfers to accounts
in tax havens by companies or persons who got business contracts in
the IPL. Those account holders are alleged to be Modi’s associates.
Lalit Modi and Rendezvous did not respond to queries sent by ET.
Modi had awarded live feeds of Australia-India series to a Delhi-based
back office company which is illegal, the official said. The company
is also suspected to be having links with the underworld.
Grant of theatre rights of IPL to a Dubai-based company for an amount
that constitutes 12% of the tournament’s revenues may be a case of
laundering that is being investigated by the department. There are
other alleged violations too. A case has been registered against
Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd that owns Rajasthan Royals.
3 comments on this story. Read them and post your own.
Readers Opinions Write to Editor
I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld
Rajeev, Mangalore, says: ET you're superb. I have become your regular
reader now. Since politicians from all parties are involved the chance
is that all dirty things will go under carpet. No matter what happens
fight against these, on behalf of poor voiceless Indian public/voters.
Thank you.
[23 Apr, 2010 1045hrs IST]
k.j.prasad, hyderabad, says: The entire investigation, and after
unearthing the crime and criminals will ultimately become a victim of
political vested interest.The government's honesty is always
suspected.
[23 Apr, 2010 0953hrs IST]
football, kolkata, says: What about football?--every year big Calcutta
clubs spend huge amount of money in recruiting foreign players ---the
money spent is much more than their membership subscription---sports
control boards of so many PSU get huge amount of money every year----
how is the money spent?
[23 Apr, 2010 0629hrs IST]
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/I-T-to-probe-money-laundering-via-hawala--underworld/articleshow/5846361.cms
Google receives requests from IPL for removing content
22 Apr 2010, 1700 hrs IST,PTI
Topics:Lalit Modi Google Indian Premier League BCCI Shashi Tharoor
NEW DELHI: Internet major Google has said it has received four content
censorship requests this month from the Indian Premier League, the
administrative body of the Twenty20 cricket tournament.
A total of five complaints were received in 2010 about certain
websites carrying "illegal retransmission of the authorised feed,
copyrighted content for which IPL is the owner", according to Google.
Out of the five, four complaints were made this month while one was
made in March.
Interestingly, Google recently signed an agreement with IPL, wherein
rights for live web coverage of matches have been given to YouTube,
part of the internet major.
Google on Tuesday had named India at the third place among a list of
nations from which it received maximum requests for censoring
information.
The list, which was based on requests for removal of information made
to Google between July 1 and December 31, 2009.
The complaints from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),
which owns IPL, have been listed on the website 'chillingeffects.org',
a project run by the US-based Berkman Center for Internet and Society,
that tracks online restrictions on speech.
"Whenever we do remove content, we display a message for our users
that X number of results have been removed to comply with local law
and we also report those removals to chillingeffects.org," Google said
in a blog post on Monday.
Last year, the BCCI had registered three complaints related to IPL,
with Google.
The cash-rich IPL is now mired in controversy following allegations by
IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi that Union Minister of State for External
Affairs Shashi Tharoor influenced the auction of an IPL franchise.
Tharoor has since resigned saying he didn't want to be an
embarrassment to the government, although he claimed doing no wrong.
Google said that it got maximum requests to censor information from
Brazil (291), followed by Germany (188) and India (142).
Removal requests ask for removal of content from Google search results
or from another Google product, including YouTube, Google had said in
a statement.
"For Brazil and India, requests for content removal are high relative
to other countries in part because of the popularity of our social
networking website, orkut. The majority of the Brazilian and Indian
requests for removal of content from orkut relate to alleged
impersonation or defamation," the statement noted.
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/P-Chidambaram-set-to-spearhead-probe-into-IPL-mess/articleshow/5846450.cms
The issue is about Modi... I've nothing to do with IPL: Sharad Pawar
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/The-issue-is-about-Modi-Ive-nothing-to-do-with-IPL-Sharad-Pawar/articleshow/5846490.cms
Sunanda says she helped IPL Kochi raise lot of money
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/Sunanda-says-she-helped-IPL-Kochi-raise-lot-of-money/articleshow/5846239.cms
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/Google-receives-requests-from-IPL-for-removing-content/articleshow/5844436.cms
The issue is about Modi... I've nothing to do with IPL: Sharad Pawar
23 Apr 2010, 0205 hrs IST,Girish Kuber,ET Bureau
Topics:Agriculture Lalit Modi Praful Patel IPL Sharad Pawar
He’s battled many controversies, ill health and the vagaries of Indian
politics and emerged a survivor. Former BCCI president and ICC
president-elect Sharad Pawar is yet again in the middle of a raging
IPL storm, which is threatening to blow the cover off Indian politics
and cricket.
In an interview to ET’s Girish Kuber, the agriculture minister stoutly
defends himself, son-in-law Sadanand Sule and NCP colleague Praful
Patel, while smartly staying clear of IPL commissioner Lalit Modi,
who’s widely considered to be his protégé.
You appear to be in the eye of a storm since the IPL controversy broke
out...
In the past few years, a perception has been created as if I’m Indian
cricket, thanks to the media. Actually, the issue is all about Lalit
Modi and his actions, but the media focus is on me. If that’s the
case, so be it. But let me put it on record—forget IPL, I’m not even a
member of the BCCI.
But you were Modi’s mentor...
I have never been his supporter or detractor. I deal with many people
in many areas. To say everyone is my baby or I’m their mentor is
nothing short of ridiculous. As far as Mr Modi is concerned, it
happened like this: see, if I go to watch a match and he (Modi) is
around, he naturally comes to see me and sits next to me. And so the
camera catches both of us... the same clippings are played over and
over again, and this helps create an impression that he is close to
me. The same thing happened after this controversy broke (out). I had
gone to watch a match in Delhi where Arun (Jaitley) and Mr Modi were
there. Isn’t it natural if both come and sit next to me? Does it (in)
anyway mean that I’m close to Mr Jaitley or Mr Modi?
Media is always in need of some kind of boxing bag. Currently, it’s
me.
Hasn’t your position vis-à-vis Modi changed after you had a meeting
with Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram on Wednesday?
Believe me, it’s absurd. The meeting was about the commodity markets
and exchanges. None of us uttered even an ‘I’ of the IPL. You can
check with the two of them. But the electronic media—which
unfortunately is seen setting the agenda for the print media too—went
to town, saying I was summoned and a few of you bought that argument
and wrote that I changed sides and no longer support Mr Modi.
So the question about your alleged support to Mr Modi remains?
My support is for the game and creating infrastructure. An impression
has been created as if I don’t do anything but cricket. It’s the least
of my priorities. I’m in no way associated with the IPL. As per the
rules, once you become the BCCI president and retire, you can’t
continue even as a member. I’m not involved in the day-to-day
operations of the BCCI either. So, to say I was Mr Modi’s supporter
has been hugely unfair to me. I reiterate that I never was his
supporter or an opponent.
Now it emerges that your daughter’s in-laws too have some sort of IPL
connection.
Is it a crime to form a company in this country or what? Many of you
may not even know that BR Sule (his daughter Supriya’s father-in-law)
was a person of such eminence that late Indira Gandhi had made him a
Planning Commission member. He is an MIT engineer and had worked as a
director of M&M for 30-32 years. Is there anything wrong if, after
retirement, he forms a company and later sells it to Sony? It is
perfectly legitimate to form a company. Besides, he has three sons.
One of them happens to be my son-in-law, so you say all sorts of
things about him. One channel (not ET NOW or Times NOW) went to the
extent of saying ‘late BR Sule’. Let me clarify that he is very much
alive. He suffered brain hemorrhage a few years back and was in coma
for a few months. But now he has recovered.
What can one say about this kind of journalism?
Praful Patel too seems to have got his hands sullied in the IPL.
What wrong has he done? Sharing information—which is in no way
classified—is not a sin. A fellow minister asks for an info for
setting up an IPL venture in his home state and Praful asks his
daughter—who is an IPL employee—to get this information which he, in
turn, forwards to the minister. You call it a crime? This is as simple
as that.
So what will be your stand on Monday? (The BCCI will meet to discuss
the IPL issue on April 26.)
I’m not even going to attend the meet. Shashank Manohar is a capable
person. He has given efficient leadership to the BCCI. So now—if you
believe—I have no role to play in the BCCI and IPL.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/The-issue-is-about-Modi-Ive-nothing-to-do-with-IPL-Sharad-Pawar/articleshow/5846490.cms
Shashank Manohar all set to become interim chief
23 Apr 2010, 0848 hrs IST,TNN
NEW DELHI: Even as Punjab cricket chief I S Bindra mounted a massive
effort to save his ally IPL chief Lalit Modi, the T-20 tourney’s
governing
council seems set to instal BCCI president Shashank Manohar as interim
head till a full-time replacement for Modi can be chosen.
Discussions among BCCI leaders saw them debate options to deal with
Modi’s rebellion , but unless the Twenty-20 cricket whiz quits, the
Board looks set on his ouster. “We are waiting for IPL-3 to get over.
After midnight of April 25 our self-imposed restraint will go,” said a
source.
Bindra did meet some BCCI members to argue that it would not be simple
to get rid of Modi and that legal options to scuttle or at least put
the April 26 meeting on hold were being explored, but the Board’s
assessment is that it is within its rights and has the numbers to sack
the IPL commissioner.
Sources said that Modi had launched a last-ditch battle as he saw an
empire that he had helped create slipping from his grasp with his
powerful mentor NCP boss Sharad Pawar withdrawing support. With NCP
itself facing some heat in the investigations into IPL, the party
leadership had snapped links with its long-time ally.
The BCCI faction looking to unseat Modi is still hoping that Pawar
will prevail over Modi to hand in his resignation before the governing
council meeting and chose to downplay the latest controversy over an
IPL email being routed from MoS civil aviation Praful Patel’s office
to former MoS for external affairs Shashi Tharoor.
Gearing up for the governing council meeting, BCCI bosses feel
Bindra’s arguments that a two-third majority would allude the
prochangers were not going to work out. Calculations that cricket
administrators like Cricket Association of Bengal head Jagmohan
Dalmiya would support Modi would not work out, they said. “Modi has
managed to rub everyone the wrong way,” said a source.
Modi’s penchant to ride roughshod over the governing council in the
past was working against him now. “Whenever a deal was signed, details
were rarely provided. As soon as the governing council met, Bindra
would begin to loudly congratulate Modi and virtually bully any
dissenters,” said a member of the council. Complaints about what was
seen to be a lack of transparency fell on deaf ears.
The view in the Board is that with IPL-3 at an end, there is no
pressing hurry to appoint a full-time replacement for Modi
immediately. Once its moves to get rid of Modi succeed, the governing
council is expected to take a number of measures to indicate that it
was ready to bring in more accountability in the functioning of IPL.
The Board’s own inquiries have revealed that funds had travelled
through two or three entities before flowing into some of the
franchises. Yet, stakes once alloted to investors were perfectly legal
and could be sold in an aboveboard manner for cheque. “It was a way of
turning black or unaccountable funds into white,” said a minister.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Shashank-Manohar-all-set-to-become-interim-chief/articleshow/5846941.cms
...and I am Sid Harth