Sonia Gandhi Was Backing Him: Lalit Modi Claims High-Level Congress Pressure In Kochi IPL Row

Former IPL chairman alleges he faced immense political heat from the UPA leadership while questioning the controversial equity structure of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala team.

The 2010 Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise saga has resurfaced in the public eye after former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi leveled fresh allegations regarding political interference. In a recent interview, Modi claimed that the expansion of the league into Kochi was marked by significant pressure from the top echelons of the then-ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, specifically targeting his scrutiny of the consortium's shareholding patterns.

Allegations of Political Intervention

Modi, who oversaw the league during its early years, asserted that his attempts to maintain transparency regarding the ownership of the Kochi franchise were met with a coordinated backlash. According to his account, the resistance he faced was not merely administrative but political. When asked who was supporting Shashi Tharoor during the intense standoff, Modi stated that "Sonia Gandhi was backing him," suggesting that the former Congress leader had significant institutional support. Modi further alleged that he received direct communication from prominent political figures, including Ahmed Patel and Pranab Mukherjee, as the dispute escalated.

Scrutiny of the Kochi Consortium

The crux of the controversy, according to the former administrator, lay in the financial structure of the bidding group. The Kochi franchise had secured its spot in the league with a bid of $350 million. However, Modi expressed deep reservations after discovering that Sunanda Pushkar was set to receive a 25% equity stake in the consortium without a proportional financial contribution.

Modi recalled confronting the consortium members about the identity of the late Sunanda Pushkar, questioning why she was being granted significant equity when other shareholders were bearing the full cost of the investment. He described the arrangement as unsustainable, claiming that the valuation of Pushkar’s shares saw an exponential increase overnight, a move he perceived as a red flag for the franchise's long-term viability.

A Strained Relationship with Tharoor

The former IPL chief also shed light on his interactions with Shashi Tharoor during the height of the row. Modi alleged that he received phone calls from the then-Minister of State for External Affairs, who reportedly urged him to cease his inquiries into the shareholding matter. Despite the warnings and the mounting pressure from various political quarters, Modi insisted that he refused to sign the franchise agreement until he obtained total clarity regarding the financial backers.

Reflecting on the eventual collapse of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala just two seasons later, Modi maintained that his initial skepticism was vindicated. He suggested that his insistence on transparency and his refusal to bow to high-level Congress pressure in the Kochi IPL row were contributing factors to his eventual exit from Indian cricket administration, noting that he felt as though "all guns were trained on" him during that period.