Lalit Modi was tonight suspended as the IPL Commissioner and issued a show-cause notice capping two weeks of raging controversy over financial wrong-doings in the hugely popular cricket tournament. The action by BCCI was taken minutes after the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the third edition of the tournament past midnight on a day of dramatic developments when decided to attend and chair the IPL Governing Council meeting on Monday morning. Describing the alleged acts of "individual misdemeanours" of Modi have brought a bad name to the administration of cricket and the game itself,BCCI President Shashank Manohar issued him a notice calling upon him to shoe cause within 15 days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. "Simultaneously in exercise of the powers vested in me under Rule 32 (vii),I have suspended Mr. Lalit K Modi from participating in the affairs of the Board,the IPL,the Working Committee and any other Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India," Manohar said in a media release. Maintaining that the events of the last few days have thrown up a lot of sad and unfortunate developments,he said "while we rejoice and celebrate the great success of IPL season three,the alleged acts of Modi have brought a bad name to the game". Manohar said he waited IPL III to conclude in order to respond to the situation as he did not want the event to be disrupted in any manner. "Immediately after the conclusion of the IPL final,the Secretary,BCCI Mr. N Srinivasan has in consultation with me issued a show cause notice to Mr. Lalit K Modi under Rule 32 (iv) calling upon him to show cause within 15 days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him". Reacting to the action against him,Modi said it had been a long and tiring tournament and wondered how he could attend the Governing Council meeting if he has been suspended. "Is the BCCI scared of truth",he said.
