I-T quizzes Mallya step-daughter,to widen probe

The Income Tax department plans to enlarge its current inquiry into the IPLs financial transactions to cover all the franchises amidst allegations of murky deals....

The Income Tax department plans to enlarge its current inquiry into the IPLs financial transactions to cover all the franchises amidst allegations of murky deals even as it questioned Vijay Mallyas step-daughter who works for IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.

Laila Mahmood,the step- daughter of Mallya who owns the Royal Challengers Bangalore team,was identified by I-T authorities as the woman who exited Modis office in a plush hotel in Mumbai minutes before I-T officials visited it for probe on Thursday. Mallya also said in a statement that my step-daughter Laila Mahmood works for Lalit Modi. I know nothing about this. I called Lalit Modi and he confirmed that she has given a statement to the Income Tax department.

The I-T authorities suspected that the woman,who was seen carrying what appeared like a laptop and some documents,might have carried away some important documents minutes before their team reached the office.

Notwithstanding claims by IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi that it was routine questioning on Thursday by officials at the premises of BCCI and his office in Mumbai,I-T department sources said the special team has prepared a voluminous report on the operations and sent it to the Finance Ministry in Delhi. Top sources said that in the wake of the report,plans were afoot to summon representatives of the various IPL team owners for questioning and for production of teams. It may also include search operations on their officials premises,the source said adding it could be a long process,the sources said.

We are widening our inquiry. However,it will take some time before we obtain all details about IPLs transactions, the sources said.

Asked about the mystery woman,Modi suggested that his staff could have brought papers for him from a hotel room which was caught on close circuit TV before tax officials went there. All I know is I was not at the hotel (Four Seasons where he reportedly has a temporary office). They do bring things to me in my office… because the I-T has asked us to bring some documents,it must be…, he said.

Sack Tharoor,probe if IPL has foreign funds: Advani to govt

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NDA working chairman L K Advani on Saturday demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sack Shashi Tharoor in the wake of his getting embroiled in Kochi IPL team ownership controversy,alleging the Minister of State for External Affairs had committed gross impropriety.

Advani,speaking at a function organised by the Lala Diwan Chand Trust to honour Sundar Lal Bahuguna,and the late Nanaji Deshmukh,also asked for a thorough probe into all aspects of IPL bidding and whether foreign funds were involved in it. The Prime Minister must drop Shashi Tharoor from the council of ministers because of gross impropriety unbecoming of the office he is occupying, Advani said. He demanded that it also needs to be probed whether Tharoor is guilty of abusing his office to secure pecuniary advantage for himself or for some other person.

BJP had earlier stalled Parliament on the issue and demanded that the Prime Minister,immediately after his return from abroad,explain why Tharoor had still not resigned. The government should conduct a thorough probe into all aspects of the IPL bidding and ensure that all transactions in this popular tournament remain above board. No wrong-doer must be spared, Advani said. He said the government must also look at the tax haven accounts of bidders and others associated with IPL.

Meanwhile,the Prime Minister is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi and other leaders over the issue on Sunday.