Pranab briefs PM on IPL investigation

New Delhi, Apr 22: In update on the IPL saga, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday, Apr 22, briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the ongoing probe against the franchisees of IPL team.

During the brief meeting, the Prime Minister was informed about the way the bids were made by the franchisees.

According to media report, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Praful Patel and Supriya Sule, who have been embroiled in the IPL controversy, figured in the discussion.

Praful Patel found himself in the midst of the IPL controversy when he confirmed Economic Times report about private his private secretary mailing a documents containing projections of the new franchisee valuations in the IPL to former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.

Patel's confirmation contradicts his earlier claim that he had nothing to do with IPL and his connection with the IPL was his daughter Poorna Patel, who was working as junior intern with one of the IPL teams.

In a sharp u-turn to the statement that he made two days ago, Patel on Thursday, Apr 22 admitted to helping Tharoor with the Kochi IPL bid after the latter sought his help.

"Shashi Tharoor called me because he was putting together a team. He wanted me to speak to Lalit Modi and help him out. This has got nothing to do with IPL. This is a needless controversy," claims Patel.

The Finance Minister is said to have briefed Singh about leading newspaper"s claims that NCP president Sharad Pawar"s son-in-law Sadanand Sule has 10pc share in Multi Screen Media (MSM), which holds the broadcasting rights of the IPL.

MSM offices were raided by the Income Tax officials on Apr 21.

Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, denied all charges against her husband.

OneIndia News