Lalit Modi's 8 bombshell claims: On Dawood, PM Modi, IPL and more

LAlit Modi has revisited some of the biggest controversies of his vocation, alleging that Dawood Ibrahim's family targeted him, defending his conclusion to remain overseas, accusing us congress leaders of trying to undermine the IPL, and offering his views on Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.'Dawood tried to kill me three times'One of Lalit Modi's most dramatic claims concerned Dawood Ibrahim and the betting syndicates he said were operating around cricket.Modi alleged that his efforts to curb illegal betting and match-fixing networks during the IPL's formative years put him in direct conflict with powerful underworld interests. He claimed Dawood Ibrahim's syndicate targeted him multiple times and said there were three alleged attempts on his life. He further claimed that his son was once kidnapped and that threats against his family eventually convinced him to walk away from cricket administration.He also recounted receiving threatening calls allegedly linked to Dawood's network, saying law-enforcement agencies were aware of some of those communications.Rejects 'fugitive' labelModi strongly pushed back against being described as a fugitive, arguing that if Indian authorities genuinely wanted to bring him back, they could have done so years ago.He said he was not hiding from the Indian government and insisted his decision to remain abroad was driven by security concerns rather than an attempt to evade authorities. Modi maintained that allegations against him were politically motivated and said he had chosen to stay away from India because of threats to his life.Rahul Gandhi uses my name during electionsThe former IPL chief also took aim at leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi.According to Modi, Rahul Gandhi repeatedly invokes his name during election campaigns and political speeches because of the emotional connection Indians have with cricket. He claimed that "every time there is an election" Rahul Gandhi attacks him to mobilise public sentiment and score political points.The remarks come years after Rahul Gandhi's "Modi surname" comments, in which Lalit Modi's name was cited alongside other figures during a political speech.Also read: Inside Lalit Modi’s opulent London mansion that gives glimpse of former IPL chairman’s lavish lifestyleCongress leaders wanted IPL blocked, claims ModiLalit Modi alleged that the Congress-led UPA government created hurdles for the IPL, particularly during the 2009 season.He claimed that then home minister P Chidambaram opposed holding the tournament in India during the Lok Sabha election period and that Congress-ruled states were unwilling to cooperate with the event's scheduling. According to Modi, repeated attempts were made to revise the fixture list before the tournament was ultimately shifted to South Africa. Fresh allegations over Kochi IPL franchise rowModi revisited the controversy surrounding the now-defunct Kochi IPL franchise and renewed his criticism of Congress leaders linked to the episode.He alleged that former Union minister Shashi Tharoor had contacted him regarding questions raised about the franchise's ownership structure and the role of late businesswoman Sunanda Pushkar.Modi claimed Tharoor warned him against pursuing the issue and alleged that senior Congress figures, including political intermediaries and ministers of the time, sought to pressure him during the controversy. He also claimed that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi backed Tharoor during the dispute.What he said about Narendra ModiDespite criticising several political figures, Lalit Modi spoke positively about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He said the Prime Minister was deeply interested in cricket infrastructure and that they had interacted on cricket-related matters, particularly regarding development of facilities in Ahmedabad. However, Lalit Modi maintained that their relationship was centred on cricket and sports administration rather than politics.Biopic in the works, Ranveer Singh interestedAway from politics and controversy, Modi revealed that a biopic based on his life is under development.According to him, the project is currently in the research and scripting stage. He also disclosed that actor Ranveer Singh has expressed interest in portraying him on screen and said he believes the actor would be a good fit for the role.Also read: Ranveer Singh wanted to star in Lalit Modi biopic, claims ex-IPL chiefReturn to India?Asked whether he intends to return to India, Modi suggested his priorities have changed over the years. He said he no longer feels the same urgency to prove himself and indicated that returning to India is not currently at the top of his agenda. He reiterated that the allegations against him were politically driven and denied wrongdoing.