| |  |
Lalit Modi, the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), on Sunday refuted the allegation of misappropriation of funds made by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), calling it "meaningless" and "flimsy".
"It is nothing but vindictiveness on the part of the police," he added.
"Basically, it was the goodwill and kind gesture of the IPL teams, franchisees and sponsors that they had pledged Rs.60 million (Rs.6 crore) and a dummy cheque was presented on the night of the game to the chief minister. Out of which, cheques to the tune of Rs.5.2 crore (Rs.52 million) have been sent directly to the Chief Minister`s Relief Fund and only two sponsors have not been able to send the pledged amount," said Modi.
Modi said the dummy cheque had the logos of the franchisees and sponsors and their signatures on it.
"A pity, instead of appreciating the gesture, the government is hounding the RCA officials, me in particular. Strictly speaking, I don`t come into the picture. It is a matter between the people who have pledged the amount and the state government which received the amount directly."
Moreover, Modi said, if someone pledged something and did not fulfill, it did not become a liability or misappropriation of funds.
"In any case, more than 90 percent of the pledged sum has been realised, and if even after that cases are being filed, it means it is nothing but vindictiveness on the part of the police," he added.
"It is a flimsy complaint and the police has taken cognisance of it."
0 comments:
Post a Comment