Lalit Modi Lashes Out at IPL 3 Presentation; Refuses to Step Down Despite BCCI Chargesheet

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Sreelata YellamrazuApr 25 2010

Lalit Modi rendered a final speech for those who would listen at the D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai at the conclusion of the IPL 3 final which was won by the Chennai Super Kings against the Mumbai Indians and the IPL 3 presentation ceremony then became more about Modi than the winners on the night.

lalit modi ipl protestors

At the IPL 3 presentation ceremony, Lalit Modi's speech took centrestage as it was given precedence over the awards, perhaps knowing that the Chennai Super Kings team's celebrations would perhaps shroud Modi's appeal to the cricket loving public.

The IPL Chairman and Commissioner, who would have been very well aware by then of the BCCI's suspension of him from the role, started out by stating that his humble dream, in which he played a small role, saw cricket develop into one of the leading sports leagues in the world.

But he was not going to lose the opportunity to state a final time during the IPL 3 tournament itself that a witch hunt was on and that he was the victim.

Excerpts from his speech:

"We have had some off field unpleasant dramas only based on innuendo, half truths and motivated leaks from all kinds of sources.

"I assure you all decisions have been taken jointly by the governing council ... Still, as the leader of the team, if there is any flouting of rules or any other financial irregularity, I will take full responsibility.

"Taking quotes out of Bhagvad Gita and Zen Philosophy, Modi stated he had nothing to fear, that he is the captain of the team, and the charges against him were made by vested interests in the media and that if there was indeed any discrepancy, he would take full responsibility.

Modi is even believed to have stated that the IPL is not the Indian Premier League but the Indian People's League and appealed to the people to continue to support the dream of the IPL and to believe in the sanctity of the sport.

The BCCI did not waste time, issuing a BCCI chargesheet against Modi set to contain as many as twenty-two allegations!

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