Nod to extradite Lalit Modi

A Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Mumbai issued an order on Tuesday to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to begin extradition proceedings against former IPL chairman, Lalit Modi, in connection with the money laundering case.

ED officials said it is a long process and that it will take more than a year to extradite Mr Modi. Last time in August, ED officials approached Interpol, seeking issuance of a red-corner notice against Mr Modi, when special judge P.R. Bhavake issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

At that time, Interpol asked the ED whether it had followed extradition proceedings against Mr Modi or not, after which they refused to issue the red-corner notice.

A month ago, the ED had applied to the court for following extradition proceedings against Mr Modi and on Tuesday, the same special judge gave his nod to the ED to extradite the former IPL chief for his alleged involvement in cases of money laundering.

He has been tracked to the UK and hence the ED has initiated diplomatic efforts to bring him back to India.

ED sources said, “Now, the procedure will start from the first request being forwarded to the external affairs ministry to expedite the process, which is expected to subsequently send it to authorities in the UK to the designated court for final execution.”

Mr Modi has denied any wrongdoing while the ED alleges he cheated BCCI-IPL in granting overseas telecast rights of the cricket tournament in 2009. The ED wanted Mr Modi to “join investigations” in a case related to the T20 cricket Indian Premier League competition after an FIR was registered against him and others under provisions of the PMLA.

Mr Modi’s general counsel, Mehmood Abdi, said, “We have no information about this development nor do we have any notice of this proceeding.”

We came to know about it only through the media.”