India to probe IPL corruption claims

NEW DELHI, April 19, 2010 (AFP) - The Indian government promised on Monday an in-depth tax and financing probe into the country's cash-rich premier cricket league, warning that "no wrongdoer will be spared".





The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded an investigation into the IPL, accusing it of being "the Corruption Premier League." The ownership details of the Kochi team was put under the spotlight by IPL founder and boss Lalit Modi. But now scrutiny has also focused on Modi with opposition politicians saying in parliament that the IPL is a front for "gambling and betting.







" Modi has denied the allegations, calling them an "attempt to discredit the IPL." The move came after high-profile government minister and former UN undersecretary Shashi Tharoor quit Sunday after he became embroiled in a scandal over the ownership of a new Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.







Finance Minister Mukherjee told parliament that the tax authorities, which raided the IPL's Mumbai headquarters late last week, had already started investigations.

"All aspects including sources of funding and routes through which the funds arrived would be looked into. Appropriate action as per (the)