Indian intelligence agencies have warned that Lalit Modi, IPL chairman is among the latest to be on the hit list of the underworld. It has been alleged that Modi is being targeted because Pakistani cricket players have not been allowed to participate in the IPL this year. According to cricket news reports, a Pak based organisation had given a so called ‘supari’ to underworld don Chota Shakeel to ‘eliminate’ Modi either in India or South Africa.According to reports, this information was gleaned from the interrogation of shooter Rashid Malabari who is also connected with international cricket according to whom Modi is one of the prime targets of the gang of Chota Shakeel. Malabari is a gangster who is associated with the Chota Shakeel gang, and was arrested last week. It has been revealed that the main aim of the plot to assassinate Modi was to create panic and chaos ahead of the Indian elections.

And Modi is not the only one targeted by this gang; others such as Varun Gandhim (BJP candidate from Pilibhit) Pramod Muthalik (of the Ram Sene attacks on the Mangalore pub fame). Reportedly these are the other people on the Chhota Shakeel radar.

Modi reportedly became an underworld target after he failed to cough up the money demanded of him by the gang. In the event there is no perceived threat to the cricket players participating in IPL Season 2 for who the highest security measures will any way be in place. It is also the betting mafia which is involved in international cricket and which is highly active in the South African region according to cricket news reports.

There is also nexus between Islamic fundamental militant organisations and the underworld gangs which further ups the risk faced by Modi. Although agencies have indicated and cricketers are safe and not the target of militants, sabotage of matches is not inconceivable possibility which must be kept in mind.
Source – cricket360.com