Mumbai police not to probe Lalit Modi money laundering case
Mumbai police has reportedly refused to probe the money laundering case against former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, and returned it to Chennai police saying that 'FIR was filed in Chennai'. Seven years after the FIR, Chennai police in June transferred the case to Mumbai saying that as Mumbai police has territorial jurisdiction, it can conduct speedy investigation of the case.
After India Today reported on June 14 that Chennai Police has decided to transfer the case of money laundering against the ex-commissioner of Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi to Mumbai Police, the latter has declined to probe the matter. After sitting on the case for almost seven years, the Chennai Police recommended a CBI probe and transfer of case to Mumbai Police on grounds of, "territorial jurisdiction to Mumbai Police is legally sound and justified for effective and speedy investigation".But according to latest reports, Mumbai Police has returned the case to Chennai Police saying that the 'FIR was filed in Chennai'.  K Jayanth Murali, Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department (CBCID), Chennai confirming it said, "It is true. It has returned to Chennai. The reason Mumbai Police gave to us is - as per the law, it is not tenable." Murali further added, "We will be now referring it to the state government. Whatever they decide, we will follow the orders". WHY DID CHENNAI POLICE TRANSFER THE CASE?In early July 2017, A K Vishwanathan, Commissioner of Police, Chennai had opined the proposal for transferring Lalit Modi's case to Mumbai Police or to the CBI, considering the nature, gravity and inter/intra state ramification and the parallel investigation conducted by the ED. The Central Crime Branch (CCB), Chennai had also agreed to it.In a confidential letter, accessed by Indiatoday.in, the Chennai Police Commissioner opined that "Tamil Nadu (TN) Police have no territorial jurisdiction to investigate the case, therefore, the case is to be transferred from CCD department, Chennai to Mumbai Police, without any further delay".Surprisingly, the state government, after careful examination accepted the proposal and accordingly, directed the Director General of Police to transfer the case to Mumbai for further investigation. The Tamil Nadu (TN) Police was also directed to inform the status to ED, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue and Government of India.WHAT IS THE CASE? In 2010, the Chennai Police registered an FIR against Lalit Modi and others, on complaint filed by former BCCI Chief N Srinivasan. Subsequently, the ED registered its ECIR under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).The case relates to Lalit Modi allegedly receiving a huge kickback in the form of diverting funds by switching TV rights contracts, cheating, criminal misappropriation and falsification of documents etc.Later, CBCID Chennai took up the investigation conducted by CCB Chennai under Section 409, 420, 468, 477, 120 (B) IPC. The probe revealed that the alleged transaction by committing various irregularities by Lalit Modi and six others, betrayed the interest of BCCI.The internal investigation report tabled by Chennai Police before the state government said, "The accused committed the offences of criminal breach of trust, forgery, cheating, falsification of accounts and defrauded BCCI in several instances to the tune of Rs 425 crore, Rs 125 crore, Rs 200 crore and Rs 3.5 crore without the consent of the IPL governing council".