In connection with a money laundering case registered against him, former IPL chief Lalit Modi has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and has been given three weeks time to join the probe in India.
The case revolves around a criminal complaint filed by the BCCI in 2010 accusing Modi of misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 470 crores during his tenure in IPL. A case against Modi and six others under six different sections of the IPC was then registered.
This is not the first time, however, that Modi has been summoned by the ED in connection with the IPL scam investigations. However, earlier he was summoned through the less stringent FEMA (Foreign Exchange Managment Act) and was allowed to record his statements through his lawyer Mehmood Abdi, while in UK.
“This time around, it is mandatory for Modi to appear in person before the ED. If he fails to appear before the agency, we will proceed against him under the law,” a senior ED official was quoted as saying in the Indian Express.
“Under the law, if an individual does not comply with summons issued under PMLA, the ED can move a court to obtain a non-bailable warrant or even a red corner notice against the person,” a lawyer told Indian Express.
“There are several other options, but these two are mostly used in case of non-compliance,” he said.
Interestingly, last week, BCCI chief-in-exile N. Srinivasan also recorded his statement with the ED in connection with the case.
Fifteen cases of over Rs. 2000 crores involving Modi and others have been investigated so far by the ED under FEMA.
However, Modi’s lawyer Abdi, when contacted said, “I have not received any ED summons and neither has Mr Modi.”