Who is Lalit Modi?

Lalit Kumar Modi, is an Indian businessman and cricket official who was born on November 29, 1963. He established the Indian Premier League (IPL), serving as its first chairman and commissioner for three seasons till 2010. Between 2008 and 2010, he also held the position of Chairman of the Champions League. From 2005 until 2010, he served as the Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Additionally, he has held the positions of vice president of the Punjab Cricket Association and president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (2005–09 and 2014–15).

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Due to his founding of the IPL, Modi received many accolades. Lalit Modi was one of India Today magazine’s 30 most prominent individuals in March 2008. Time magazine placed Lalit Modi 16th among the world’s top sports CEOs in July 2008. Less than a year after the IPL’s debut, Forbes magazine referred to it as “the world’s hottest sports league” in August 2009. This was an incredible compliment from a US publication. Sports Illustrated ranked Lalit Modi as the second-most powerful person in Indian sports in February 2010.

Modi once had a lot of political influence in Rajasthan as a personal friend and ally of BJP leader Vasundhara Raje. Raje was dubbed “Super Chief Minister” by the opposition and the media during her first tenure as chief minister. Shashi Tharoor, an Indian National Congress minister, was accused by Modi of having indirect free stock in the Kochi Tuskers Kerala IPL franchise in 2010. Tharoor ultimately resigned as a result of Modi’s allegations. The Kochi franchise claimed that Modi was harassing them in order for another organisation to be chosen as the franchisee. Modi was suspended from the BCCI shortly after the 2010 IPL concluded due to allegations of misconduct, indiscipline, and financial issues. 

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After a commission found him guilty of these allegations, BCCI opened a probe against him and banned him for life in 2013. Modi refuted all claims and attributed them to political rivals. Modi relocated to London just before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opened an inquiry on him for potential financial irregularities.

Modi is currently the president and managing director of Modi Enterprises and the executive director of Godfrey Phillips India. 

On July 14th, 2022, the former IPL commissioner announced his relationship with actress Sushmita Sen on social media by posting photos of the two together. Lalit Modi has uploaded several pictures of the former Miss Universe with the caption, “My better half,” adding that they had returned from a trip to the Maldives. Lalit Modi has indicated that he is anticipating “a fresh life” upon his return to London.

Contrary to the reports making rounds on the Internet, the businessman has not tied the knot with Sen. He has clarified that they are still dating. He added that he hopes that he gets married to his ‘better half’.

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