Controversial Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi likely to file a petition in the Bombay High Court on Friday,seeking postponement of the IPL governing council meeting called by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) on Monday. Modi is said to be touch with some senior lawyers in this connection and sought legal aid to fight the charges made against him. Senior counsel Harish Salve reportedly acknowledged Modi holding discussion with him on the matter. Meanwhile,BCCI chairman Shashank Manohar ruled out putting off the April 26 meeting due to the emergency situation. With this,Modi has only two alternatives to either move court or attend the meeting and seek more time to mount his defence. Modi reportedly suspects that the Governing Council meeting might oust him from the post of IPL Commissioner as the BCCI accused him of hiding details of stakeholding by his relatives in franchises. The BCCI may issue a show-cause notice and suspend Modi from all positions,pending inquiry. If suspended,Modi would cease to be the Chairman of the IPL,CLT20,BCCI Vice-President and as a consequence he will not be allowed entry into the IPL office. BCCI President Shashank Manohar shed all his reticence on Thursday to attack Modi for wanting to reveal details of franchise ownership. He also rejected Modi's contention on the meeting and said it would go ahead as scheduled. He dismissed Modi's claim of BCCI secretary N Srinivasan having a conflict of interest in owning the Chennai franchise. Manohar said that it was the then BCCI President Sharad Pawar who had given Srinivasan permission to bid and it was India Cements,a company which bid and was accepted by the general body. Manohar also said that Srinivasan convened the meeting not as the owner of the team but was empowered by the Board constitution to do so. Manohar also said it was improper of Modi to think of revealing details of the ownership patterns,saying there were complex legal issues and confidentiality clause. He said he had the support of BCCI and Modi himself had earlier agreed not to divulge details,but now he was selectively leaking mails. Meanwhile,Governing Council member and former Indian Skipper M A K Pataudi said Modi should step down if he has so much conviction in his innocence. Asked if Modi should step aside in the best interest of IPL,Pataudi said: "Yes. I think so. Let these allegations and accusations come to some kind of conclusion and let's see because he's kept on saying .for the last few weeks that he's done nothing wrong. So fine,if he has done nothing wrong,let them take it out.
