Lalit Modi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lalit Modi Sangha
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Modi at the DLF IPL players auction in 2010
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| Chairperson of Indian Premier League | |
| In office 2005–2019 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Chirayu Amin |
| President of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) | |
| In office 2005–2009 |
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| Vice President of Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) | |
| In office 2004–2012 |
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| President and Managing Director of Modi Enterprises | |
| In office 1991–2022 |
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| Executive Director of Godfrey Phillips India | |
| In office 1992–2010 |
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| President of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) | |
| In office 2014–2015 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lalit Modi Sangha
29 November 1963 New Delhi, India |
| Nationality |
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| Spouse |
Minal Sagrani
(m. 1991; died 2018) |
| Domestic partners | Sushmita Sen (2022–2025) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
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| Relatives |
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| Residences | London, England |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founding and being the first League Commissioner of the Indian Premier League |
Lalit Kumar Modi (born 29 November 1963) is a businessman from India and Vanuatu. He is known for creating the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was the first chairman and commissioner of the IPL, running the cricket tournament for three years until 2010.
Modi also served as the Chairman of the Champions League from 2008 to 2010. He was the Vice President of the BCCI from 2005 to 2010. He led the Rajasthan Cricket Association as President from 2005 to 2009, and again from 2014 to 2015. He was also the Vice President of the Punjab Cricket Association from 2004 to 2012.
Modi had a lot of influence in Rajasthan because he was close to the political leader Vasundhara Raje. Some people even called him the "Super Chief Minister." In 2010, Modi made claims about a politician, which led to that person's resignation. After the IPL season in 2010, Modi was suspended from the BCCI. He faced accusations of bad conduct and financial issues. The BCCI investigated him and banned him from cricket for life in 2013. Modi said he did nothing wrong and blamed political disagreements. He later moved to London.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Lalit Kumar Modi was born in Delhi, India, on November 29, 1963. He comes from a well-known business family. His grandfather, Gujar Mal Modi, started the Modi Group business. His father, Krishan Kumar Modi, helped the family business grow a lot.
Modi went to Bishop Cotton School in Shimla in 1971. Later, his family moved him to St Joseph's College, Nainital. In 1980, he was asked to leave St. Joseph's for skipping school to watch a movie.
From 1983 to 1986, Modi studied in the United States. He attended Pace University and Duke University but did not finish his degrees. In 1986, Modi returned to Delhi and joined his family's business. He worked as the President of International Tobacco Company Limited. In 1992, he became an executive director at Godfrey Phillips India, a large tobacco company.
Family Life
In 1991, Lalit Modi married Minal Sagrani in Mumbai. His family was not happy about the marriage at first because Minal was older and had been married before. But his grandmother helped convince them.
Lalit and Minal had two children: a son named Ruchir Modi and a daughter named Aliya. Lalit Modi also has a step-daughter named Karima from Minal's first marriage. Minal passed away in 2018 after battling cancer.
In July 2022, Modi announced he was dating former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. They ended their relationship in February 2025.
Early Business Ventures
In 1993, Modi started Modi Entertainment Networks (MEN). This company worked with Walt Disney Pictures to show some of Disney's content in India. In 1994, MEN also became the main distributor for ESPN in India. This was a big ten-year contract.
Later, Modi became the President and managing director of Modi Enterprises. This is a large group of companies run by his family. In 2002, Modi also launched an online lottery business in Kerala.
Cricket Management
Modi was very impressed by how much money American sports leagues made. In 1995, he suggested a new cricket tournament to the BCCI. He even registered a name for it. However, the BCCI did not take his idea seriously at that time.
Modi then decided to join the BCCI himself. In 1999, he was elected to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. In 2004, Modi became the vice-president of the Punjab Cricket Association.
Leading Rajasthan Cricket
In 2003, Modi's friend Vasundhara Raje became the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Modi used his connections to become a close helper to the Chief Minister.
Modi then decided to take control of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). This association had been run by the Rungta family for over 30 years. In 2005, Modi helped pass a new law called the Rajasthan Sports Act. This law changed how votes were counted in the RCA. Because of this, Modi was elected as the President of RCA. He won by just one vote.
As RCA President, he spent a lot of money to improve the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. He made it one of the best cricket stadiums in India. He also built a modern cricket academy. He increased the money made from advertising and ticket sales.
Working with BCCI
After becoming RCA President in 2005, Modi helped Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar become the BCCI President. After this, Modi was made the vice-president of the BCCI.
Lalit Modi was very involved in the business side of the BCCI. Between 2005 and 2008, the BCCI's income grew a lot, reaching over $1 billion.
Creating the Indian Premier League
In 2008, Lalit Modi was key in starting the Indian Premier League (IPL). This league was based on Twenty20 cricket, a faster version of the game. He also helped move the IPL to South Africa in 2009. This happened because the tournament dates were at the same time as the Indian general election, and security could not be guaranteed in India.
The IPL quickly became one of the biggest sports leagues in the world. Its success and Modi's control over it led to him being compared to famous sports promoters like Don King and Bernie Ecclestone.
Some of Modi's family and friends also benefited from the IPL. His brother-in-law owned a large share in the Rajasthan Royals team. His step-daughter's husband had a share in a company that won the digital rights for the IPL. Another relative was a part-owner of Kings XI Punjab. Jay Mehta, one of the owners of Kolkata Knight Riders, was a childhood friend of Lalit Modi.
Role in Rajasthan Government
Because he was close to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Lalit Modi became very powerful in Rajasthan. He was sometimes called a "super chief minister." He lived in Mumbai but often visited Jaipur. There, government officials would line up to meet him.
Modi also got involved in real estate. He tried to take control of some old buildings near the Amer Fort. This caused some legal issues. During Raje's time as Chief Minister, rules were changed to allow farmland to be used for other purposes. This change helped many large builders, and it was said that Lalit Modi was involved.
Modi's growing power in Rajasthan became a big topic in the 2008 Rajasthan elections. Vasundhara Raje lost these elections. The new Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, said Modi acted like he had special authority. After Raje left power, Modi's influence in Rajasthan decreased.
Leaving BCCI and Moving to London
In April 2010, the Kochi cricket team complained that Lalit Modi had threatened them. A day after the IPL final, the BCCI suspended Modi. He faced 22 charges, including making decisions without approval, not following rules, and giving contracts to his friends.
Soon after his suspension, Modi moved to London. He hired lawyers to fight the BCCI's charges. He also spent time growing his family's business in Europe. Modi believed that N Srinivasan, who later became BCCI President, was behind his removal.
The Indian government's Enforcement Directorate (ED) started investigations against Modi and other BCCI officials. These investigations were about possible financial rule violations. Modi said he was not responsible for all decisions, as the BCCI made them as a group. He refused to return to India, saying his life was in danger. The Mumbai Police supported his claim, saying that criminals had threatened him.
In 2013, a BCCI committee found Modi guilty of 8 charges. These included:
- Changing rules to favor certain bidders.
- Threatening a team to give up their rights.
- Favoring a company for TV rights.
- Not telling about his family's links to internet rights.
- Threatening to "expose" people in the BCCI on social media.
- Planning a rival cricket league in England.
- Giving rights to a company without approval.
Because of these findings, the BCCI banned Lalit Modi from cricket for life in 2013.
Return and Removal from RCA
In December 2013, the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) held new elections. Lalit Modi was re-elected as president of RCA in May 2014, even though he was living in London. Right after his election, the BCCI banned the RCA. Lalit Modi took legal action against the BCCI's decision.
In March 2014, Modi claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had proof of match-fixing in a cricket tournament but was keeping it secret.
In March 2015, a group tried to remove Lalit Modi from his position as RCA President. A meeting was held, and Modi was voted out by a controversial 17-1 vote. Some of Modi's supporters said they were stopped and attacked, which caused them to be late for the meeting and unable to vote.
"Modigate" Controversy
In March 2010, the Indian government took away Lalit Modi's passport. Modi challenged this decision in court, and his passport was given back in August 2014.
In June 2015, it was reported that a British politician had helped Modi get travel documents. This politician mentioned a recommendation from Sushma Swaraj, an Indian government minister. Modi's wife was getting cancer treatment in Portugal, and the travel documents were given so he could be with her.
Modi also revealed that in 2011, BJP leader Vasundhara Raje had signed a document supporting his application to British authorities. This document was meant to be kept secret from Indian authorities. Earlier, there were claims that Lalit Modi had sent money to a company owned by Vasundhara Raje and her son.
This situation became a big news story called "Modigate" in India. Opposition parties said that political leaders were protecting Lalit Modi, who was wanted for financial investigations in India. Modi's lawyer said it was a political attack against him.
Interpol, an international police agency, issued a notice for Modi to be arrested if he returned to India. However, in June 2015, Modi was seen in a photo with the former Interpol Chief, Ronald Noble. This caused many questions in India about their connection. Noble said he did not know about Modi's legal issues at the time.
In 2017, Interpol rejected India's request for a global arrest warrant against Lalit Modi. As of 2025, Lalit Modi has not been found guilty of any charges in the ED investigation.
Awards and Recognition
- In April 2006, Mike Atherton called Lalit Modi "the most important cricket administrator in the world."
- In March 2008, India Today magazine listed Lalit Modi among India's 30 most powerful people.
- In July 2008, Sports Pro magazine called him the "Best Rain Maker" for any sports body.
- In July 2008, Time magazine ranked Lalit Modi 16th among the world's best sports executives.
- In September 2008, he was named "Brand Builder of the Year" by Asia Brand Conference.
- In September 2008, CNBC Awaaz gave him "The Consumer Award for Transforming Cricket in India."
- In October 2008, NDTV Profit named him "The Most Innovative Business Leader in India."
- In October 2008, Business Week ranked Lalit Modi 19th among the 25 most powerful global sports figures.
- In August 2009, Forbes magazine called the IPL "the world's hottest sports league."
- In December 2009, Business Standard named Lalit Modi one of the "Game Changers of the Decade."
- In February 2010, Sports Illustrated named Lalit Modi the 2nd Most Powerful Person in Indian Sports.
