I am not Modi's saviour: Farooq Abdullah

New Delhi, Apr 21 (ANI): Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday rubbished reports that he is backing beleaguered Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi.

Interacting with scribes here, Abdullah said he was not Modi's 'saviour' or his 'hangman' as was being speculated in a section of the media.

"I am neither his (Modi's) hangman nor a saviour. There have been charges levelled against Modi, he will answer to them," Abdullah said.

"The Government of India has also set up an enquiry committee, their report will be given and the truth will be come out. Dr Tharoor has also asked for an inquiry to clear his name," he added.

Abdullah further said that as a member of the IPL he too wants to know what has actually happened.

"Till all this happens, how are you going to do anything about it? Why do you call Farooq Abdullah as Modi's saviour or his hangman? Farooq Abdullah, like any other IPL member wants to know the facts. And once the facts are clear we will know exactly what decision to take," he said.

Abdullah claimed that he had no inside knowledge about the IPL controversy.

"Unless we meet, we have a talk about it and hear from them what is the situation, I cannot comment. This is all speculation," he said.

Commenting on whether Modi was being unfairly targeted because of his success with the IPL, Abdullah said: "It is an old Indian habit to try and pull down someone who is going up."

He demanded that the government to give Modi a fair chance to explain his role.

"Give him a chance to explain himself, which he will do before the Government of India and the BCCI and IPL. If he has committed a mistake, he should go," Abdullah said.

As of now, Modi is facing the axe after apparently having lost the backing of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

Rumors are running thick in sporting circles that Modi may exist the IPL when the IPL Governing Council meets in Mumbai on April 26.

Modi may be asked to quit voluntarily.

The Government's crackdown on the IPL intensified on Wednesday, with the Enforcement Directorate registering a case against IPL teams under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMS) to conduct an open inquiry into transfer of foreign funds.

Meanwhile, as many as eight investigation wings of the income tax department have also spread across the country to probe the source of IPL funds and obtain financial details from various stakeholders in the IPL from across the country. (ANI)