File photo of former IPL chief Lalit Modi
The Enforcement Directorate today moved a court in Mumbai for a non-bailable warrant against former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi.
The move by the Enforcement Directorate or ED comes after Mr Modi failed to respond to a notice served to him on July 3 to appear within two weeks in connection with a case lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The court is expected to pass orders on August 3 after hearing arguments. If the court issues a non-bailable warrant, it also paves the way for a Red Corner notice against Mr Modi.
However, the court questioned the timing of the ED's move given that the investigation has been going on for years. But the ED argued that they have stumbled upon concrete evidence recently and they want the arrest warrant issued or else there is a possibility of evidence being destroyed. The ED also said that Lalit Modi is sure to tamper with evidence and they need his custody as other ways to get to him have failed.
Stressing on the fact that the case had international ramifications, the ED argued "We want to arrest Lalit Modi as he has not honoured the last three summons."
The ED said it needs to question Mr Modi urgently about an alleged kickback of nearly Rs 125 crore paid after he reportedly manipulated the process of assigning the broadcast rights of the IPL. The case against him was filed by N Srinivasan, the former chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, who testified earlier this month with the ED in Mumbai.
Mr Modi has so far refused to return home citing death threats from the underworld. His offer to appear via videoconference was accepted as a fair one last year by the Delhi High Court when it restored his Indian passport, declaring that the government had wrongly revoked it.
A huge political storm was kicked up last month after Mr Modi's ties with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje were revealed.