Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi alleges Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel targeted him after he refused to tolerate match-fixing. He also rejects being called a fugitive.

Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has once again alleged that underworld figures Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel targeted him after he refused to tolerate match-fixing during his tenure, while insisting that concerns over his safety remain one of the reasons he has stayed away from India since 2010.

Speaking on Wisden Cricket’s podcast The Scoop, Modi revisited his long-standing claims about threats from underworld operatives and rejected suggestions that he fled India to avoid legal action. The former IPL chief, who has been based largely in London since leaving India in May 2010, said he is settled abroad and has no pending legal cases against him.

Referring to alleged attempts to influence cricket during his time in charge of the IPL, Modi claimed that individuals linked to Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel tried to interfere but were unsuccessful. He said that because he refused to “look the other way”, he became a target.

“The same people who tried to fix it with me — Chhota Shakeel and Dawood. The same people got involved with (Gurunath) Meiyappan. It wasn't me because I didn't look the other way. And that's why they went after me,” Modi said during the podcast.

The former IPL commissioner also claimed that his son was kidnapped and that there had been threats against his life in different parts of the world. Calling betting and underworld involvement in cricket “toxic”, Modi said he saw no reason to return to a situation he believes remains dangerous.

Lalit Modi says he is not a fugitive

Addressing criticism over his decision to remain outside India, Modi strongly rejected the “fugitive” label. He argued that a person can only be considered a fugitive if there is a criminal case against them and they deliberately evade the law.

Modi claimed that no government agency has filed a case against him and said he has fulfilled his tax obligations. He added that he has business interests in India but is now focused on life in London, where his children also reside.

The former IPL boss further said he has moved on from cricket administration and has no plans to return to the IPL or the BCCI, describing himself as being well past the stage of pursuing a comeback in the sport.

Is match-fixing still a threat in cricket?

On the issue of match-fixing, Modi said corruption in cricket has become far more sophisticated than it was in the past. However, he stopped short of making any direct allegation against the IPL.

Asked whether fixing still exists in the league, Modi said he did not know and could not give a definitive answer. He added that the IPL’s financial scale makes it less likely for players to risk their careers, though he acknowledged that corruption remains a concern across sports globally.

At the same time, Modi warned that smaller and lesser-known cricket competitions are far more vulnerable to manipulation. According to him, many local and inter-city tournaments lack proper governance and oversight, creating conditions where betting syndicates can thrive.

He alleged that betting activity linked to cricket has grown into a massive industry, particularly around lower-tier leagues where monitoring is limited. Modi described such competitions as especially susceptible to fixing and betting-related malpractice.

Published: 03 Jun 2026, 08:18 pm IST

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