Claiming that he has the only copy of the 'slapgate' video, former IPL chairman Lalit Modi said the Board of Control for Cricket in India did not make the footage of the incident public on the suggestion of vice-president Arun Jaitley, but he would consider releasing it.
"The idea of not releasing the vid in public was Arun Jaitley's at that time. We accepted wht he said. But let me re-examine its release now," Modi wrote on his Twitter page.
- 'Harbhajan slapped Sree, not elbowed'
- 'Slapgate' incident was planned: Sreesanth
"Yes I have the only copy of slap gate video. Will examine whether to release or not in the next few weeks."
Five years after the infamous 'slapgate', S Sreesanth, on Friday, made an explosive claim, saying the entire incident was pre-planned and his former India teammate Harbhajan Singh is a "backstabbing person".
Sreesanth, who is currently playing for Rajasthan Royals, claimed that he was not at fault in the incident and the real video, which has never been released, would show his version.
He demanded that the videotape of the incident be made public.
Modi also contradicted Sreesanth's version that he was not slapped but elbowed by Harbhajan.
"I was at the match in mohali. And saw the incident. And saw the footage too. So there zero chance of ambiguity whether slap or elbow.??" he wrote.
"What has been said by [retired Justice] Sudhir Nanavati [who headed the 'slapgate' inquiry]is correct. Yes Bhaji did try to hit him again but was stopped."
