Lalit Modi, the former chairman and commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has made a startling revelation about the inaugural match of the tournament in 2008. Modi admitted that he deliberately violated broadcasting regulations to maximize viewership, even if it meant potentially facing legal repercussions.
According to Modi, the decision to override Sony's exclusive broadcasting rights during the Kolkata Knight Riders versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru (then Bangalore) match stemmed from concerns that the network's reach was insufficient to guarantee the widespread audience needed for the IPL's success. "Everything, everything was dependent on that one game," Modi stated. "I broke every rule in the book that day".
Modi, who is currently living in exile in the United Kingdom, recalled his thought process at the time: "Sony said 'I'll sue you'. I said 'Sue me later, forget about it? Ok, we are going live now because you don't have the reach'. I needed everybody to watch the first game. If the first game had flopped, I was dead".
While contemporary media reports do not extensively document these claims, the IPL proved highly successful for both Sony and Modi, who served as a BCCI board member at the time.
This decision, however, was not without its consequences. It later led to contract disputes, investigations, and legal proceedings against Modi regarding alleged favoritism towards World Sports Group (WSG). In March 2009, the BCCI terminated its broadcasting agreement with Sony Entertainment Television and World Sports Group, citing contract violations. Modi subsequently negotiated a new arrangement where Sony regained rights until 2017 for approximately $1.63 billion. As part of this deal, World Sports Group received a facilitation fee of approximately 425 crore rupees for relinquishing their claims. This payment drew attention from authorities as BCCI alleged Modi had exceeded his authority in modifying contracts and showing preference to WSG. The matter attracted investigation from the Enforcement Directorate and became part of legal proceedings against Modi.
Lalit Modi served as the Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL for three years, until 2010. He is widely credited as the founder of the IPL, which has grown into one of the world's biggest sports leagues, worth over $4 billion. However, his tenure was also marked by controversy. In 2010, shortly after the IPL season ended, Modi was suspended from the BCCI following accusations of misconduct, indiscipline, and financial irregularities. An investigation was launched, and in 2013, he was banned for life by the BCCI after a committee found him guilty of the charges. Modi has consistently denied any wrongdoing, attributing the accusations to political rivalries. Before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched an investigation against him for alleged financial irregularities, Modi moved to London and was labeled a fugitive.
Recently, Modi has also been in the news for releasing unseen footage of the infamous "slap-gate" incident from IPL 2008, where Harbhajan Singh slapped Sreesanth. The release of this video, 17 years after the incident, drew criticism from Sreesanth's wife, who called the act "disgusting, heartless and inhuman". Modi defended his decision, stating that he was simply "sharing the truth" after being asked about the incident.
