Kolkata:
At a time when he could really use a few friends, Lalit Modi is getting by with help from the owners of different teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
After Vijay Mallya defended him, now it's the turn of Jay Mehta, who co-owns the Kolkata Knight Riders with Shah Rukh Khan, to give Modi his vote.
"I got into IPL because Lalit Modi is a friend," says Mehta, who is married to actor Juhi Chawla. The simple statement drives home what Modi's supporters - and a few detractors - have acknowledged - that Modi gave cricket the gift of techni-colour by merging Bollywood with cricket. Current IPL team owners include Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta, as well as Chawla and SRK.
Mehta also says that Modi is being made the scapegoat in the current IPL controversy. "To make one person the fall guy for this is unfortunate," he states. Modi is likely to be forced out as Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL on Monday, when the IPL Governing Council meets. Modi has said he will not attend this meeting; he also believes it's unconstitutional because he, as Chairman, hasn't called it. The IPL, and its parent body, the Board of Control for cricket in India (BCCI) have clarified that Modi doesn't have to be present in order to be voted out.
The offices of Mehta's Kolkata Knight Riders have been visited in Kolkata and Mumbai by income tax officials. Mehta denies reports that the documents confiscated showed financial impropriety. He said, "My investment in KKR routed through Mauritius because I'm a British citizen." Stressing that his funding is transparent, Mehta said all his investments in India have been through a Mauritius company...that doesn't mean there is money-laundering going on."
After Vijay Mallya defended him, now it's the turn of Jay Mehta, who co-owns the Kolkata Knight Riders with Shah Rukh Khan, to give Modi his vote.
"I got into IPL because Lalit Modi is a friend," says Mehta, who is married to actor Juhi Chawla. The simple statement drives home what Modi's supporters - and a few detractors - have acknowledged - that Modi gave cricket the gift of techni-colour by merging Bollywood with cricket. Current IPL team owners include Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta, as well as Chawla and SRK.
Mehta also says that Modi is being made the scapegoat in the current IPL controversy. "To make one person the fall guy for this is unfortunate," he states. Modi is likely to be forced out as Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL on Monday, when the IPL Governing Council meets. Modi has said he will not attend this meeting; he also believes it's unconstitutional because he, as Chairman, hasn't called it. The IPL, and its parent body, the Board of Control for cricket in India (BCCI) have clarified that Modi doesn't have to be present in order to be voted out.
The offices of Mehta's Kolkata Knight Riders have been visited in Kolkata and Mumbai by income tax officials. Mehta denies reports that the documents confiscated showed financial impropriety. He said, "My investment in KKR routed through Mauritius because I'm a British citizen." Stressing that his funding is transparent, Mehta said all his investments in India have been through a Mauritius company...that doesn't mean there is money-laundering going on."
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