BCCI gets fresh summons from I-T

Under scanner from multiple government agencies, the Cricket Board has been served with fresh summons by the Income Tax authorities seeking details about the conduct of Indian Premier League, including bids for franchisees and payments made by the cash rich T20 League.

The summons were issued on July 19 by the Office of Assistant Director of Income Tax, Mumbai to BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, asking the latter to present himself or a representative on Wednesday and furnish details related to the IPL bids, a source said.

In reply, the BCCI informed the IT authorities that a representative of the Board would be present before it on July 23.

"Following the summons, the BCCI has sent a letter to the I-T department seeking more time and assured that a Cricket Board representative will meet the tax officials on July 23," a source close to the development told PTI.

Putting the onus on the BCCI as the parent body of the IPL, the I-T department had asked it to furnish details on certain issues, including why bids for franchisees were in US dollars, and the currency in which payments were made, the source said.

It further asked if the BCCI had any bank guarantees in foreign currencies and whether changes in IPL's shareholding pattern of some teams were permissible as per Indian laws. 

The I-T department also sought details on revenue sharing, media rights, ticket sales and asked the board to submit relevant documents and receipts regarding the same. 

Besides, the taxmen also enquired about failed bids and the interests and stakeholding of BCCI members in the franchisees and as well as in the failed bids.

Fixing more responsibility on the BCCI, the department had asked for certain details pertaining to the core management of the IPL, which the Cricket Board itself had sought from the T20 league's suspended Commissioner Lalit Modi, the source said.

As per the I-T summons to BCCI, the Board secretary could send an authorised representative with all the documents and accounts details, and if it fails to do so, a nominal fine would be slapped on the Board. 

When contacted, BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty refused to comment, saying that the development was not meant for public consumption.