Lalit Modi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lalit Modi Chor
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Modi at the DLF IPL players auction, 2010
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| Founder and Commissioner of Indian Premier League | |
| In office 2008–2010 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| 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 | 29 November 1963 New Delhi, India |
| Spouse |
Minal Sagrani
(m. 1991; died 2018) |
| Domestic partner | Sushmita Sen |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
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| Residences | London, UK |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founding and being the first League Commissioner of the Indian Premier League |
Lalit Modi (born 29 November 1963) is an Indian businessman and former cricket leader. He is best known as the person who started the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was the first chairman and commissioner of the IPL, running the tournament for three years until 2010. He also held important roles in Indian cricket, like being the Vice President of the BCCI and President of the Rajasthan Cricket Association.
After the IPL in 2010, Modi was suspended from the BCCI. He was accused of not following rules and having financial issues. The BCCI later banned him for life in 2013. Modi has always said he did nothing wrong. He moved to London around that time.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lalit 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, and his father, Krishan Kumar Modi, made it even bigger.
Modi went to Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and later St Joseph's College, Nainital. He studied in the United States from 1983 to 1986, attending Pace University and Duke University. He returned to India in 1986 and joined his family's business. He worked for International Tobacco Company Limited and Godfrey Phillips India, a large tobacco company.
Personal Life
Lalit Modi married Minal Sagrani in 1991. She was nine years older than him. They had two children, Ruchir Modi and Aliya. Lalit Modi also has a step-daughter, Karima Sagrani, from Minal's first marriage. Minal passed away in 2018. In 2022, Modi announced he was dating former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen.
Early Business Ventures
In 1993, Modi started Modi Entertainment Networks (MEN). This company worked with Walt Disney Pictures to show Disney content in India. Later, MEN also became the distributor for ESPN in India. However, ESPN did not continue its contract with Modi. Most of Modi's early businesses in Mumbai did not make much profit. He later became the President and managing director of Modi Enterprises, his family's main business group. In 2002, he also launched an online lottery business in Kerala.
Cricket Administration
Lalit Modi was very impressed by how much money American sports leagues made. In 1995, he suggested a new cricket league to the BCCI, but they didn't take it seriously. So, Modi decided to join the BCCI himself.
Rajasthan Cricket Association
In 1999, he joined the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. Later, in 2004, he became the vice-president of the Punjab Cricket Association. In 2003, his friend Vasundhara Raje became the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Modi used his connections to become the President of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) in 2005.
As RCA President, he worked to improve cricket in Rajasthan. He spent money to make Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium one of the best in India. He also built a modern cricket academy. He found new ways to make money for the RCA, like selling advertising space for much higher prices and selling tickets that used to be given away for free.
Board of Control for Cricket in India
After becoming RCA President, Modi helped Sharad Pawar become the BCCI President in 2005. Modi then became the vice-president of the BCCI. He 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.
Indian Premier League
In 2008, Lalit Modi was key in starting the Indian Premier League (IPL). This league uses the Twenty20 cricket format, which is faster and more exciting. He also helped move the IPL to South Africa in 2009 when it couldn't be held in India due to elections. The IPL quickly became one of the biggest sports leagues in the world, worth billions of dollars.
Some of Modi's family and friends were also involved with IPL teams. For example, his brother-in-law owned a share in the Rajasthan Royals team. His step-daughter's husband was involved in a company that handled the IPL's digital rights.
Role in Rajasthan Politics
Because he was close to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Lalit Modi became very powerful in Rajasthan. People even called him a "super chief minister." He often visited Jaipur, and many ministers and officials would meet him to ask for help.
Modi also got involved in real estate. There were some questions about how he got control of certain properties near the Amer Fort. He was also linked to changes in land rules that helped big builders. His growing influence became a topic in the 2008 Rajasthan elections, which Vasundhara Raje's party lost. After that, Modi's power in Rajasthan decreased.
Expulsion from BCCI and Life in London
In April 2010, after the IPL final, the BCCI suspended Lalit Modi. He faced many accusations, including not following proper procedures, making decisions without approval, and having financial issues. Soon after his suspension, Modi moved to London. In 2013, a BCCI committee found him guilty of several charges, and he was banned from the BCCI for life.
The Indian government's Enforcement Directorate also started investigations into financial matters involving Modi and other cricket officials. Modi said he was not responsible for all decisions, as the BCCI made them as a group. He also said he would not return to India due to safety concerns.
In 2010, Modi claimed on social media that a New Zealand cricketer, Chris Cairns, was involved in match-fixing. In 2012, Chris Cairns sued Modi for making false statements and won a large amount of money in damages.
Re-election and Ouster from RCA
In May 2014, Lalit Modi was re-elected as the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), even though he was living in London. Immediately after this, the BCCI banned the RCA. In March 2015, a group tried to remove Modi from the RCA presidency. He was eventually removed by a vote, though there were some disagreements about how the meeting was held.
"Modigate"
In 2010, the Indian government canceled Lalit Modi's passport. He challenged this in court, and his passport was given back in 2014. In 2015, it was reported that British politician Keith Vaz had helped Modi with his travel documents. This was after Sushma Swaraj, an Indian leader, had asked British authorities to help Modi get travel papers so he could be with his wife, who was getting medical treatment in Portugal.
Modi also revealed that another Indian political leader, Vasundhara Raje, had signed a document supporting his application to British authorities in 2011. There were also questions raised about financial dealings between a company owned by Lalit Modi and a company linked to Vasundhara Raje and her son.
These events led to a controversy in India called "Modigate" by the media. Opposition parties said that some leaders were protecting Lalit Modi, who was wanted for financial investigations in India. Interpol, an international police organization, was asked by India to issue a global warrant for Modi. However, in 2017, Interpol rejected this request.
Awards and Recognitions
- On April 9, 2006, Mike Atherton called Lalit Modi "the most important cricket administrator in the world today."
- In March 2008, India Today magazine listed him among India's 30 most powerful people.
- In July 2008, Sports Pro magazine called him the "Best Rain Maker" (money maker) for any sports body globally.
- In July 2008, Time magazine ranked Lalit Modi 16th among the world's best sports executives.
- On September 25, 2008, he was named "Brand Builder of the Year" by Asia Brand Conference.
- On September 26, 2008, CNBC Awaaz gave him "The Consumer Award for Transforming Cricket in India."
- On October 6, 2008, NDTV Profit named him "The Most Innovative Business Leader in India."
- On October 24, 2008, he received an award for "Excellence in Innovation" at the Frost & Sullivan Growth Excellence Awards.
- 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."
- On December 28, 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.
Images for kids
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Modi at the DLF IPL players auction, 2010
