Lalit Modi warned of passport revocation

NEW DELHI - The government Friday warned former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi of revocation of his passport if he did not reply by Oct 28 to a show cause notice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said here that the show cause notice was issued to Modi on Oct 13 with a 15-day deadline. “He has not replied till yesterday,” Rao told reporters here.

“Modi is holder of passport issued by the Regional Passport Officer, Mumbai. On Oct 5, the ED had sent a request to the External Affairs ministry seeking revocation of his passport. They had cited public interest in general and the investigations” into the alleged irregularities in the IPL as reasons, Rao said.

The former IPL chief was issued a show cause notice Oct 13 asking him to explain why action under relevant sections of Passports Act 1967 should not be initiated against him, she said.

The ED provided an alternate residential address of Modi Oct 15, and a copy of the notice was sent on the address.

“The RPO, Mumbai, has confirmed that Modi has not responded to the notice till yesterday. The reply is awaited. If no reply is received within the stipulated time, action will be initiated by the RPO under relevant provisions,” Rao said.

Modi was suspended as IPL chairman after the third edition of the IPL 20Twenty in April this year.