NEW DELHI: Former IPL chairman and businessman Lalit Modi has pushed again strongly towards being labelled a “fugitive”, insisting that he has “by no means been convicted” of any crime.He additionally dismissed the tag as a product of “media sensationalism” relatively than authorized actuality.In an unique interview with information company ANI, Lalit Modi rejected the notion that he has been on the run since leaving the nation in 2010.Arguing that somebody genuinely evading probe companies might not journey brazenly throughout the world, he stated the narrative surrounding him had been formed extra by headlines than court docket findings.“I am not running at all. I am going throughout the world. If I used to be running, you’d be choosing me up someplace or the different. The Indian authorities has a protracted arm… You may’t take on the authorities of India. And I do not intend to. It is not the authorities. It is the media,” he stated.Lalit Modi additionally took purpose at what he described as a tradition of media trials, blaming the absence of sturdy defamation legal guidelines for repeated allegations towards him.“You don’t have any libel in your nation, in our nation. You may say what you need and I promote information,” he stated.The previous cricket administrator additionally addressed the authorized and regulatory scrutiny he has confronted over the years, together with motion by the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) and investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Whereas allegations starting from bid-rigging and cash laundering to violations of the Overseas Trade Administration Act (FEMA) have been levelled towards him, Lalit Modi maintained that none had resulted in a conviction.Questioning the tempo of the judicial system, he argued that extended authorized uncertainty itself quantities to punishment.“It by no means will get heard in our nation. Justice comes. I do not know when it comes. The sluggish justice is a punishment as nicely. Not a single case towards me has been registered. If I’ve been so dangerous, and all people says I have been so dangerous, OK, please, guys, exit and prosecute me,” he stated.Requested whether he intends to return to India and clear his identify in court docket, Lalit Modi urged that chapter of his life is behind him.“There was a time once I did need to come again. And I had all the causes to come again. Come again and do what?… I do not want to show to anyone,” he stated.He additionally questioned the authorized foundation for any potential arrest after greater than a decade of investigations.“Arrest you need to do, you could have to take me to court docket. Seventeen years you have not taken me to court docket. How are you going to arrest me immediately? If there was one thing there, it could be out,” he stated.On questions on criticism from opposition leaders, Lalit Modi claimed he had turn into a handy political speaking level and alleged that some political figures continued to goal him.“What I am afraid about is that you’ve got some folks that I’ve upset and they’re political. Whether or not they sit in the opposition or they sit anyplace else, they’ve an axe towards me. They usually even have numerous clout… For those who look at the parliament speeches of Rahul Gandhi, he at all times assaults me each time there may be an election or some challenge. Why am I being attacked by the Congress authorities?…” he stated.Regardless of Lalit Modi’s claims, India continues to pursue investigation linked to his tenure as IPL chief.The Enforcement Directorate is probing allegations of economic irregularities, cash laundering and unauthorised fund transfers, whereas the ministry of exterior affairs is pursuing extradition-related processes below Indian and worldwide authorized frameworks.
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