Don't bring Congressman to meet NaMo: Lalit Modi

'Rajasthan Royals' (RR) officials, who were looking at Gujarat as a second venue, wanted to meet then Chief Minister Narendra Modi but IPL chief Lalit Modi cautioned them against bringing a man who was perceived to be close to the Congress for the meeting.

A well-connected man, Lalit knew the need of not offending prominent personalities to get work done and that was why he advised RR officials in September 2009 not to bring one 'Ranjit' for a meeting with Modi, who was also the president of Gujarat Cricket Association.

It is not known whether Rajasthan Royals met Narendra Modi following this.RR Vice Chairman Santanu Chari in an email to Lalit on September 16, 2009 sought his help in setting up a meeting for 'Ranjit' and himself with Narendra Modi and office bearers in the next two weeks to work out key relationships.

They wanted to start interaction with office bearers to work out IPL plans and also hospitality and ticketing issues. Chari said he wanted to check with Lalit his "thoughts or anything that we should consider" as they wanted to meet the newly constituted Gujarat Cricket Association office bearers and build relationships.

Lalit replied two-and-a-half hours later saying that he would meet Modi, whom he projected as someone who was close to him, first. He also said he did not want politics to seep into IPL. "Let me meet him first. I am meeting him on Sunday.

Ranjit - no. Seen as Congressman. Operating team to do that. I don't want politics here. They will do what's needed. He is very close to me," Lalit's reply said.

The mails were also marked to Rajasthan Royals co-owners Manoj Badale and Suresh Chellaram, who is Lalit's brother-in-law.

While Chari thanked him for "the advice", Badale replied to Lalit's mail saying it "makes sense".