PIL against minister wants post-Godhra-type SIT

NEW DELHI: The face-off between Union minister Shashi Tharoor and IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi over IPL-Kochi has reached the Supreme Court. A PIL was moved on Tuesday sought direction for a CBI inquiry into the alleged proxy stakes held by minister of state for external affairs Tharoor in the Rs 1,533 crore franchise won by Rendezvous Sports World. (RSW)

The PIL filed by advocate Ajay K Agrawal, alternatively urged the court to constitute a Special Investigation Team on the lines of the post-Godhra communal riots of 2002 to probe the alleged role of the union minister in the IPL controversy.

The petition alleged that Mr Tharoor used his official position to help get 19% of the stakes pegged around Rs 70 crore free to beautician Sunanda Pushkar, whom Mr Tharoor reportedly plans to marry.

“Mr Shasi Tharoor, all along, was describing himself as a mentor of the Kochi franchise without any direct stake whatsoever. The matter would have rested there had IPL authorities not asked the Kochi franchise to disclose the complete list of shareholders. This revealed the identity of Sunanda Pushkar and brought into question Mr Tharoor’s financial interest into Kerala IPL team,” said the petition.

Zeroing in on the official statement issued by Mr Tharoor, the petition alleged, “it (such statement) confirms that he used his official position of being a minister to get the Kochi team of IPL to a consortium led by RSW, a company in which 19% free stake is of Ms Sunanda Pushkar with whom Mr Shashi Tharoor have intimate relations as these reports are coming in the newspapers for the last several days and were not denied by Mr Shashi Tharoor.”

“The intimate photographs of Mr Shashi Tharoor and Ms Sunanda Pushkar appeared in various newspapers today also confirms the reports, that Mr Shashi Tharoor have intimate relationship with Ms Sunanda Pushkar. Petitioner has reasonable apprehension that hawala and black money have also played big role in this Kochi IPL case.”

Mr Modi had on Sunday disclosed the names of the free equity holders, including Ms Pushkar, in the RSW which coughed up approximately Rs 1,533 crore to bag the Kochi franchise.

Mr Tharoor had all along denied having a stake in the Kochi franchise, saying he played merely a facilitator’s role.

In a lengthy rejoinder, (see document) Mr Tharoor denied calling Mr Modi and requesting him not to disclose details of RSW stakeholders. He trained his guns on the powerful cricket board official alleging various attempts were made by Mr Modi and others to pressure the members of the consortium to abandon their bid in favour of another city in a different state. Ahmedabad was being mentioned as the other city.

Miffed by the disclosure, RSW threatened to send a legal notice to Mr Modi and accused the IPL commissioner of breaking the confidentiality terms. The Kochi franchise has also complained to BCCI president Shashank Manohar about Mr Modi’s ‘indiscretion’. Mr Modi claimed there was pressure on him not to reveal the details of who all owns Rendezvous.