Governing Council not party to most Modi decisions: Manohar

"An allegation is being made and the media is saying all the members of the (IPL) Governing Council are party to all these decisions. Now most of the contracts which are entered into are entered into without the consent of the governing council," Manohar told reporters here.

The BCCI chief said Modi would informed about contracts after he had signed them on behalf of IPL and the other parties and the GC will have to pass them as there were no other alternatives.

"And they are brought before the Governing Council after the contracts are signed. So the Governing Council has no other option and are presented with a fait accompli," Manohar said while explaining about the murky deals that have come under the scanner of the Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate departments.

To prove his point, Manohar said the contract for the IPL Awards function held here on April 23 was signed only the previous night and the document was not available with the IPL CEO Sundar Raman when he summoned for it soon after reaching Mumbai from Nagpur last week.

"For example I came here three days ago to look into all contracts and called Mr Sundar Raman for the IPL contract for the awards function and was told no contract was there as it was finalised yesterday at 3 O'clock for a 7 O'clock function. In such cases what can the Governing Council members do," he shot back.

Manohar further said that the professional people employed by any organisation need to do the job as the Governing Council members were doing honorary work.

"Any organisation runs on trust. We can't go into each and every detail. Then why have a professional staff to run the show. We can come here, sit from 10 am to 10 pm daily and do the work. It's the job of the professionals who have been appointed," he declared.

He reluctantly conceded that the reason for the IPL mess was because too much power had been entrusted with one person -- Modi. "Unfortunately I have to say yes," he said.
But he saw no problem in BCCI secretary N Srinivasan also being part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise outfit as MD and vice-chairman of its owners India Cements.
"When the IPL was on the drawing board and the bidding process was yet to be decided Mr Srinivasan asked then Board president Mr Sharad Pawar's permission to bid for a team and he was granted permission. Also Mr Srinivasan is not the majority share holder in India Cements. If I own 1000 shares in Reliance Industries I cannot be asked not to bid for it," he reasoned.