INDIA SUMMARIZED

The Enforcement Directorate today moved a court in Mumbai for a non-bailable warrant against former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi. The move by the Enforcement Directorate or ED comes after Mr Modi failed to respond to a notice served to him on July 3 to appear within two weeks in connection with a case lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The court is expected to pass orders on August 3 after hearing arguments. If the court issues a non-bailable warrant, it also paves the way for a Red Corner notice against Mr Modi. However, the court questioned the timing of the ED's move given that the investigation has been going on for years. But the ED argued that they have stumbled upon concrete evidence recently and they want the arrest warrant issued or else there is a possibility of evidence being destroyed. The ED also said that Lalit Modi is sure to tamper with evidence and they need his custody as other ways to get to him have fail...

A hotel bill amounting to Rs 1.56 crore that the BCCI refused to pay in 2010 tells the story of IPL’s Lalit Modi days, with a guest list including top politicians such as Vasundhara Raje of the BJP and Shashi Tharoor of the Congress. From January 1 to April 30, 2010, the IPL chairman made the ‘Club’ suite (Room No 9132) of the Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai his base, instead of operating from the BCCI office in the same city. Raje and Tharoor, who had no direct connection to cricket at that point, stayed at the hotel during the IPL with the expenses billed to the league. Raje stayed in a Deluxe Sea View Room (No 3202) on March 11 and checked out on March 13. Her room was charged Rs 19, 719. Tharoor, meanwhile, stayed in the Deluxe Sea View Room (No 1906) on March 12, checking out the next morning. His room was charged Rs 25,612. The IPL season opener was on March 12 at the DY Patil Stadium in New Mumbai. Swaraj Kaushal, the husband of BJP’s senior leader Sushma Swa...