Tharoor forced BCCI hand on Sunanda antecedents: Lalit

The IPL mess is getting murkier day by day. Its controversial former chairman Lalit Modi on Wednesday claimed, that former union minister Shashi Tharoor pressurized the BCCI not to dig much about Sunanda Pushkar's antecedent, who was also a stakeholder during the Kochi Franchise bid. He also fired a fresh salvo at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and his family over their alleged controversial roles in the Hockey league.

On April 11, 2010, a meeting was called by Modi (then IPL Chairman) to authenticate the bid documents related to the Kochi Franchise bid.

During the meeting, Modi had asked the consortia of the owners present that he has received a call from Tharoor asking him not to probe into the identity of Sunanda Pushkar (one of the owners listed in the shares holders agreement).

However, Modi "initially" refused to bow down to the pressure and told one of the <g data-gr-id="54">share holders</g> (present in the meeting) identified as Shailendra Gaikwad of <g data-gr-id="53">Rendevouz</g> Sports World Pvt. Ltd. to reveal the identity of Sunanda.

"Mr. Gaikwad replied that <g data-gr-id="47">Ms</g> Sunanda Pushkar was a family friend living in Jammu & Kashmir. She is <g data-gr-id="46">housewife</g> and that her husband works in an auto industry," Modi's minutes of the meeting document revealed.

While going further to probe if there were any direct or indirect ownerships or connection for any of the owners with any politicians, Modi received another call (in his cell +919820233333) during the same meeting from Tharoor (+919650111098). Tharoor was annoyed over Modi for inquiring too much about the antecedents of Sunanda. He allegedly asked why Modi was asking the connection link of the owner related to Sunanda. Instead of any argument Modi told him that it is necessary as per the BCCI-IPL rules but later confessed that he signed the Kochi bid under pressure minutes.

Interestingly, after four months of the bidding process, both Sunanda and Tharoor got married on August 22, 2010. Later, on September 19, 2011, the Kochi Tuskers Kerala was terminated by the BCCI due to a breach in their contract terms.

"<g data-gr-id="41">Please</g> media tell us what has been done in regard to criminal@ShashiTharoor wife #murder. @arunjaitley #explain," Modi's tweet reads.

Not the least, Modi also targeted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's family members, "Hockey League which u are owner and director of. How come <g data-gr-id="59">Mrs</g> Jaitley is <g data-gr-id="58">lawyer</g> to the hockey league. India wants to know. My Q to @arunjaitley - how come you allowed one owner to have two teams. How come PSU <g data-gr-id="56">are</g> key sponsors of hockey. Explain how much of the 1.4 cr was made by u from the hockey league @arunjaitley @sonalijaitley #indiasmostconflicted."

"Will #media please investigate the role of @arunjaitley & @sonalijaitley - there association with #hockey league. PSU sponsors, team owners," he tweeted.

Attacking Congress leader Ahmed Patel, he said, "This is the truth - @arunjaitley and @ShuklaRajiv and a certain chap called #Ahmadpatel got together and put up this tirade against me."