Lalit Modi, the visionary founder and first commissioner of the Indian Premier League, was suspended by the BCCI on 26 April 2010, just three years after he revolutionized cricket with the IPL's creation. The suspension came after a series of controversies, including allegations that he had rigged the bidding process for the Kochi franchise and had financial irregularities in his handling of IPL revenues.
Modi fled to London before Indian authorities could pursue charges against him. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department launched investigations into allegations of money laundering, tax evasion, and financial mismanagement running into hundreds of crores of rupees. The BCCI subsequently imposed a life ban on Modi from any involvement in cricket.
From his London exile, Modi remained vocal, using social media to make counter-allegations against BCCI officials, including N. Srinivasan and several politicians. He alleged that corruption in the BCCI was far more widespread than what was being investigated. His tweet accusing Chris Cairns of match fixing led to the defamation case that Cairns won.
The Modi saga raised fundamental questions about the governance of the IPL, which had grown into a billion-dollar enterprise with minimal oversight. While Modi was credited with creating the IPL and making it a global brand, his tenure was marred by allegations that he had enriched himself and his associates through the league's operations.