CHENNAI: Former chairman of Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi has yet again refused to receive the summons issued to him by Chennai police in connection with a criminal complaint of misappropriation of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) funds. The summons was sent on both occasions to Modi's Mumbai residence.
With the second deadline set by the city police for the dislodged IPL boss to appear for inquiry lapsing on Tuesday last, the police are now mulling legal options to make him respond to the summons. A senior official told the TOI that the police was now set to move court against Modi and others for repeatedly evading summons to appear for inquiry. Modi is believed to be in London.
After BCCI secretary N Srinivasan filed a criminal complaint alleging misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 469 crore, Chennai police issued the first summons to seven persons, including Modi, on December 28, 2010. So far only two -- Kunal Das Gupta, former CEO of Multi Screen Media, a Sony TV subsidiary, and Ajay Verma -- have appeared before the police and given their explanations. Others excluding Modi have received their summons, but are yet to respond.
It was on January 13, 2011 that the police sent a second summons to five of those named and asked them to appear before the Central Crime Branch (CCB) here on January 25, 26 or 28, whichever date was suitable to them. The police had even announced that it would extend the deadline till February 15 for them to respond. However, none of them have responded so far. The charges against Modi and others are criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts, besides cheating.
"We are all set to move the court for wilful dishonouring of summons," city police commissioner T Rajendran told Times of India.
Lawyers say it is not impossible to serve the summons and force Modi and others to appear before the authorities for inquiry. "Police can send a summons through the Indian embassy in the foreign nation concerned. Authorities can also invoke the provisions of an extradition treaty if India had such an understanding with that country. Police could also move court to get Modi and other wanted persons declared as proclaimed offenders and initiate extradition proceedings with the cooperation of the country where they are staying at present," criminal lawyer N Raja Senthoor Pandian told to TOI.
With the second deadline set by the city police for the dislodged IPL boss to appear for inquiry lapsing on Tuesday last, the police are now mulling legal options to make him respond to the summons. A senior official told the TOI that the police was now set to move court against Modi and others for repeatedly evading summons to appear for inquiry. Modi is believed to be in London.
After BCCI secretary N Srinivasan filed a criminal complaint alleging misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 469 crore, Chennai police issued the first summons to seven persons, including Modi, on December 28, 2010. So far only two -- Kunal Das Gupta, former CEO of Multi Screen Media, a Sony TV subsidiary, and Ajay Verma -- have appeared before the police and given their explanations. Others excluding Modi have received their summons, but are yet to respond.
It was on January 13, 2011 that the police sent a second summons to five of those named and asked them to appear before the Central Crime Branch (CCB) here on January 25, 26 or 28, whichever date was suitable to them. The police had even announced that it would extend the deadline till February 15 for them to respond. However, none of them have responded so far. The charges against Modi and others are criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts, besides cheating.
"We are all set to move the court for wilful dishonouring of summons," city police commissioner T Rajendran told Times of India.
Lawyers say it is not impossible to serve the summons and force Modi and others to appear before the authorities for inquiry. "Police can send a summons through the Indian embassy in the foreign nation concerned. Authorities can also invoke the provisions of an extradition treaty if India had such an understanding with that country. Police could also move court to get Modi and other wanted persons declared as proclaimed offenders and initiate extradition proceedings with the cooperation of the country where they are staying at present," criminal lawyer N Raja Senthoor Pandian told to TOI.
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