Once branded a fugitive, Lalit Modi says he's ready to return to India after tribunal relief
Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has said he plans to visit India later this year or in early 2027 after securing a major legal victory in the long-running 2009 IPL South Africa foreign exchange case. The announcement came a day after the Appellate Tribunal under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) set aside key penalties imposed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Calling the verdict the culmination of a 16-year legal battle, Modi said the tribunal's findings vindicated the position he had maintained since the case began. In a video message shared on social media, he said the ruling confirmed "the truth" behind his defence and marked a significant personal milestone.
"I'm really happy with the verdict. It's really been a great day. Sixteen years I have fought and whatever I have been saying to the media and to everybody has finally emerged as the truth," Modi said.
The tribunal overturned key FEMA-related penalties against Modi and several former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials in connection with the relocation of the 2009 IPL season to South Africa.
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According to the order, the foreign remittances linked to organising the tournament were current account transactions and therefore did not require prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The tribunal also held that Modi was not responsible for ensuring the BCCI's compliance with the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), weakening the central basis of the ED's case.
Why the case was filed
The legal proceedings stemmed from the decision to move the 2009 IPL season to South Africa after the tournament's schedule clashed with the Lok Sabha elections in India. The ED had alleged violations of FEMA provisions in relation to foreign exchange transactions made during the overseas staging of the tournament.
The tribunal's ruling rejected key aspects of those allegations, granting relief to Modi and other former BCCI officials.
Lalit Modi's India return plans
Modi, who has lived in London since leaving India in 2010 amid multiple investigations, said he now hopes to visit India after more than 16 years away.
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He said he is likely to travel at the end of 2026 or in early 2027, adding that the timing would depend partly on a personal family milestone.
"I'm looking forward to coming back to India. Yes, I will come back probably at the end of this year or early next year. My daughter is due with my grandson in October and hopefully everything will be well and I'll be back in India," he said.
In a separate post on X, Modi said India had always remained close to him despite living overseas.
"India has always been a part of who I am. The legal process has taken its course, and I respect that. I look forward to visiting my country again, meeting old friends, from time to time and contributing in every positive way I can."
However, he clarified that he has no plans to relocate permanently.
"My home remains in London, and that is where I will continue to live, but my heart has never stopped beating for India," he wrote.
IPL remains close to him
Reflecting on the 2009 episode, Modi said every decision he took was driven by the interests of the IPL, the tournament he helped establish in 2008.
"I was only concerned with the well-being of the IPL and nothing at all. That is the most dear to me," he said.
Timeline: 2009 IPL case
2008: Indian Premier League launched under Lalit Modi's leadership.
2009: IPL shifted to South Africa because of the Lok Sabha elections in India.
2010: Lalit Modi leaves India as multiple investigations begin.
2026: SAFEMA Appellate Tribunal sets aside key ED penalties in the FEMA case, after which Modi announces plans to visit India.
With PTI inputs