Modi's lawyer seeks 'neutral Supreme Court judge' for probe

Lalit Modi's attorney Mehmood Abdi on Tuesday said he will push for a retired Supreme Court judge on the Board of Control for Cricket in India's disciplinary panel that is probing alleged financial irregularities by the suspended IPL chairman in the running of the T20 event.

"A neutral retired Supreme Court judge must be there in the committee. We have grave concern about the BCCI's stance. If they have already decided then what's the point in all their meetings? Whosoever is doing this is hurting BCCI's cause more," Abdi said before going into the BCCI's disciplinary committee meeting in Mumbai.

Talking abut the meeting agenda, Abdi said, "We have two points to discuss today. First to get the documents which we have asked from the BCCI and the second issue is of recusal of some members from the disciplinary committee. It will be decided today."

Modi is seeking the recusal of interim IPL chief Chirayu Amin and BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley from the panel.

"The preliminary issue is of supply of the documents. We had asked the BCCI for some documents which we feel are necessary to move forward. Core issue of recusal will also be concluded," said Abdi, who represented Modi at the meeting.

Modi again skipped the disciplinary committee meeting but Abdi was of the view that his client's absence would not affect the proceedings.

"In the last meeting we had given reason to the BCCI about his (Modi) absence and the Board has accepted that. We feel his absence won't affect the proceedings because I am here to represent him. It will be decided if he can come later depending on the situation," Abdi said.

The three-member disciplinary panel, comprising Amin, Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia, last met on July 16 and allowed Modi to be represented by his lawyers.