'Personal vendetta behind Modi's criminal case'

Lalit Modi accused Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary N Srinivasan of a personal vendetta in filing a criminal case against him in Chennai even while the disciplinary proceedings are on.

Modi's lawyer Mehmood Abdi said it is only because of the personal vendetta of Srinivasan against Modi that they have filed the criminal complaint in Chennai and by doing so they have rendered the disciplinary proceedings 'meaningless'.

"The police is being misled by invoking the jurisdiction on the basis of the BCCI's registered office in Chennai. Criminal complaint is filed where the offence is committed and according to where somebody's office is situated," Abdi said.

"If that is the case then why the criminal case against Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya was filed in Mumbai. BCCI's office is in Chennai for the last 40 years. Still they filed those cases in Mumbai. Why?

"What's so special in Chennai (in this case)? Because the comfort level of Mr Srinivasan is optimum in his hometown. The question of jurisdiction arises in civil matters and not in criminal cases," he said.

Early in the day, Srinivasan filed the complaint against Modi, accusing him of misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 470 crore.

Abdi said, "They have rendered the ongoing disciplinary proceedings meaningless. Already nothing is coming out of those hearings."

The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday, in New Delhi.