Sule defends Praful Patel's daughter in IPL row

Referring to Poorna Patel, who is involved with IPL, Sule told reporters: "She is a nice kid … don't slug her…she is a young, enterprising, qualified 24-year-old…who has a right to decide what she wants to do." Sule, an MP, is the daughter of union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

According to reports, Poorna, who is a junior executive with the IPL, had got an e-mail from her boss IPL CEO Sundar Raman which she forwarded to her father's secretary, who sent it further to former union minister Shashi Tharoor before bids for two new IPL franchises were opened. The mail reportedly contained projected valuations of new IPL franchises.

Praful Patel said Thursday he "did it for a friend" and has denied any role in the IPL.  The row over cash-rich IPL erupted after IPL commissioner Lalit Modi revealed that Tharoor had misused his office to benefit his close friend Sunanda Pushkar, who got Rs 70 crore sweat equity in the IPL Kochi franchise. He resigned as minister of state for external affairs in the wake of the IPL controversy.