Bollywood's IPL owners in trouble

SRK's team office in Kolkata raided by income tax officials, Preity summoned by court

The Indian Premier League (IPL) scandal that has rocked the cricketing and Indian political world is now fast spreading to Bollywood. It has been alleged that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has hidden stakes in teams owned by Shah Rukh Khan (Kolkata Knight Riders), Preity Zinta (Kings XI Punjab) and Shilpa Shetty (Rajasthan Royals. And today (April 21) the Kolkata offices of Shah Rukh's team were raided by income tax officials. The offices of the Cricket Association of Bengal were also raided.

Meanwhile, in Chandigarh, a court has summoned the promoters of Kings XI Punjab. Reportedly, the promoters have not shared details of their financial dealings and balance sheet with the Registrar of Companies.

While there has been no response from Shah Rukh on these developments, Preity had tweeted a few days ago, "Lalit Modi has ABSOLUTELY NO share in Kxip!" She had said earlier, "Media needs 2 b accountable 4 what comes out in press! Am shocked at some of d stories regarding KXIP! No gossip or rumour pls! only news!"

A probe into financial deals of the IPL was broad-based today with searches at offices of three of its event management and broadcast firms in Mumbai, even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case to investigate foreign exchange violations by its franchisees.

Also, the income tax probe which started with the IPL Kochi franchise last Wednesday was widened with simultaneous searches in multiple cities.

The 10 franchisees under scrutiny are Kochi's Rendezvous Sports, Pune's Sahara group, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.

Earlier in Mumbai, a team of over 50 officials of the Directorate of Income Tax Investigation started the search operations at the premises of Multi Screen Media, World Sports Group and Pat Magnarella Management in Bandra, Khar and Malad suburbs of north-west Mumbai in the morning.

Simultaneously, the ED Mumbai registered a case against "unknown persons" under the Foreign Exchange Management Act to probe unauthorized transfer of huge foreign funds without the permission of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The ED move was prompted by information that huge funds have found their way into the IPL from international tax havens. It would inquire into the root of the IPL finances from dubious sources, officials said.

Earlier called Sony Entertainment Television, Multi Screen Media has the telecast rights for the IPL T20 cricketing extravaganza for 10 years from 2008, while World Sports Group acquired the global media rights for IPL for 10 years for over $1.5 billion.

Pat Magnarella Management is a full-service management, branding, and marketing services company, which in the past specialised in the music business and later made a foray into sports as well, officials said.

In New Delhi, another investigative wing of the finance ministry, the Directorate of Enforcement, registered a preliminary case against the IPL and its franchisees to probe possible violations of foreign exchange rules and regulations.

The case was registered under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act in a bid to help the directorate's officers search the premises of suspected people, seize incriminating material and hold enquiries, officials said.

A probe by the tax department had first started with the Kochi franchise of IPL last Wednesday. A day after, officials from the income tax department visited various offices of the IPL in Mumbai and questioned its commissioner Lalit Modi.

Based on the documents collected, the tax probe was then extended to other cities as well, following which all the wings of the finance ministry were roped in for parallel investigations.

Finance ministry officials said their main concern was whether ill-gotten money stashed abroad was being brought back into the country, as also whether there was tax evasion by IPL and its franchisees.

The question of free equity to some directors of franchises is also being probed.

Shah Rukh’s got the IPL blues

He’ll stay away from the Knight Riders next match, which is a must-win for them

Superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan will not be present when his side takes on Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in a must win encounter for the teams tomorrow (April 13) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

"No, I won't come to Chennai for the match. Think the team needs to introspect and play without my interference...emotional or physical," the superstar tweeted today.

The Knight Riders have not been consistent enough in their campaign this year and are now ranked sixth with 10 points from 11 matches with a poor net run rate of -0.417.

Shah Rukh is worried about that.

"I think our main issue is winning consecutive games. We haven't since the first two. Momentum and consistence amiss," Shah Rukh said on the social networking site.

Shah Rukh, who is busy shooting for his forthcoming film ‘Ra. One’, also feels that only praying for his team's success will not work. Performance on the field is the only mantra for the Knights.

"Ha ha... someone said better way to pray at KKR matches will help...I don't think so...I think better play at KKR matches will help our cause," he said.

The Knight Riders need to win all three of their remaining matches to stay in contention for a semi final berth.

With Mumbai Indians making the semi-finals for the first time in IPL history Sunday after mauling the Rajasthan Royals, the only team not to feature in the semis ever is the Knight Riders.

Shilpa's Royals crumble before Mumbai Indians

But the star's IPL team is still in fourth place on the points table

Shilpa Shetty's Rajasthan Royals haven't yet reached the semi-finals of the tournament this year, but the Mumbai Indians, whom they lost to today (April 11) became the first team to confirm their place in the final four. Shilpa's Royals were chasing the Mumbai Indians' 174/5, but only managed to reach 137/8.

Today's loss puts Shilpa's team in a challenging position. They now need to win their next two matches, if they hope to reach the semi-finals. Shilpa had hoped the victory march would begin today itself. She had tweeted pre-match, "Ok everyone, big game tonite:) pl pray we need this win:) big hug and lotsa Positive energy, Halla bol"

Even though they lost today, Shilpa's team still retains its fourth position on the IPL points table this year. And her Rajasthan Royals are doing much better than SRK's Kolkata Knight Riders and Preity's Kings XI Punjab. Think Shilpa's team will make it to the final four? Tell us what you think.

Shilpa's Royals win an IPL thriller

They defeated the Deccan Chargers by two runs, back in the top four in team ranking

Shilpa Shetty's team, the Rajasthan Royals, scored a thrilling win over the Deccan Chargers team at the IPL match played at Nagpur today (April 5). It all came down to the final over, where the Royals' captain Shane Warne was bowling, and the Deccan team lost three wickets, and also the match.

Shilpa was amazed by the sensational victory. She posted on her Twitter account, "That was an incredible win!!I nearly had a heartattack, Phew!!Thank u for all the prayers:):)they always work!big hug to u all.GO ROYALS"

And the victory took time to sink in for Shilpa. She tweeted later, "Warnie was on fire,Yusuf bowld wel and todays STAR was Trivedi wat an amazin game still in shock!"

It's no shock however that with this win, the Rajasthan Royals are back in the top four in the team rankings. And Shilpa is one happy team owner.

Preity's Kings upset SRK's Knight Riders

The actress is wondering if her staying away from the IPL matches makes her team win

Preity Zinta's team, Kings XI Punjab, put up a smashing performance to win their second IPL match against Shah Rukh Khan's team, the Kolkata Knight Riders. Preity's team had been on a losing streak, but at the match played at Kolkata today (April 4) they reached the Knight Riders' score of 201 with 10 balls to spare.

Preity wasn't at the match at Eden Gardens, but she was thrilled with the result. She posted on her Twitter account, "YE HA ! Was in Jammu so was out of reach there4 was missing at d game & on twitter! A Much needed win 4 d boys ! TING :-) dimple is back !"

She added later about her team and SRK's team, "MAHELA was brilliant ! SANGA and YUVI ROCKED ! 4 all those who supported us ... THANX & MUAAAAAAAAAAAAH !! Wish KKR all the best ahead !"

And Preity noticed that her team won when she wasn't there, saying, "What was wonderful was the collective team effort today ! Maybe I should stay out of the stadium d next game ! What say u guys ?"

Meanwhile, SRK was subdued in his post-match Twitter update. "We let this one slip by. all the more difficult to qualify. well done kings 11. now have to play fearlessly. gayle was superb. fielding aaaghh."

So whose team do you think will make it ahead in the IPL matches? SRK has actually said that he will dance naked if his team wins the IPL championship this year!

SRK’s Knight Riders face first IPL 2010 loss

Shah Rukh's thoughts on his team's performance: "Work Harder" 
READ MORE AT SRKTHEDON.BLOGSPOT.COM

Preity's Kings XI lose another IPL match

Did Deepika Padukone cheering for the other team make a difference?

Not all of Preity Zinta's bubbly support from the stands could save her IPL team from their second consecutive loss at this year's tournament.

At the match today (March 16) played in Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium, her Kings XI Punjab were outclassed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Preity's team scored 203/3, and the Challengers ended with 204/2 in 18.5 overs.

But Preity wasn't too upset about the loss. In fact, she continued to be positive. She posted on her Twitter account, "We played well but Bangalore played better ! Got the give credit where its due ! 14 more games to go till its all over !" And in a later tweet, the actress added, "Today we were the losing side but that's ok ! Both previous IPL's we lost our first two games ! We will come back with a bang ! I know it !"

The star power at the match today wasn't limited to Preity. Deepika Padukone was there too, supporting the Bangalore team. We've got to watch out for how the two gorgeous actresses and their teams fare in the future. It promises to be an interesting face-off!

Sanjay and Ajay co-partners in IPL

If all goes well then the new friends of B-town Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt may soon own an IPL team. The buzz is that they have already taken a step towork out this plan.

Sanjay has had a private meeting with Indian Premier League’s commissioner Lalit Modi on September 2 in Mumbai. It was a private meeting in a five star hotel, where Sanjay revealed his plans about investing in the Ahmedabad team along with Ajay Devgn.

Sanjay is quite keen to invest as he made sure that he understandseverything about bidding process and investment of a team. Both actors who bonded on the sets of a film All The Best soon found out about their common interest in cricket. One day, while chatting with each other, this idea of owning a team together struck them. Ajay, who is away from town, asked Sanju to have a word with Lalit Modi which is said to have been successful.

Before this, Ajay would often mention about his interest in cricket via his blog, especially when this year’s IPL season was going on.Apart from these two actors Salman Khan too had a meeting with Lalit Modi for the same reason, he is said to be interested in investing either in the Nagpur or Kochi team.

Other Bollywood celebrities who own various teams are Preity Zinta-Kings XI of Punjab,Shah Rukh Khan-Juhi Chawla Kolkatta Knight Riders and Shilpa Shetty with her beau Raj Kundra owns Rajasthan

I don't like John too much: Salman Khan

Salman Khan tells Abhijit Majumder he will bid for one of the two new teams and speaks about everything from SRK to Islam.

YOU are there, invisibly pinned to the wall by fear as the massive, bear-like Saint Bernard casually strolls up to you.

"Don't panic, take your fears head on, run into them," advises a grinning Salman Khan, wearing just his blue gym shorts. "Come, let me introduce you to Saint. He's a harmless baby."

For the next hour or so, you have him talking about new films, SRK, Katrina, Islam, close to everything.

He confirmed in this interview at his Bandra Bandstand house on Friday afternoon that he indeed wants to buy an IPL team.

So this is Salman unplugged (just kidding... anybody who has spent some time with him knows an entirely unplugged Salman is too candid, raw and politically outrageous even for our pages). Excerpts of the printable interview:

You haven't had a hit for a while. Does that worry you?
It does bother me like everybody else. But I haven't had too many releases either. With me, there wouldn't be a film for a long time, and then there would be a flurry of them. I just let my films be released whenever they are done. There is no strategy, no game involved.
Also, among many of those that flopped, I had made guest appearances in 10- or 15-minute roles, for a friend, without charging money or anything. But even these films are put on my shoulder.

Are your forthcoming films any different from what you've done so far?
Arey lovely films yaar. These are the ones I have chosen carefully, worked very hard for. The star of the film is the script. Earlier, I would do a film because it's a big banner or name, but many of them didn't do well. Finally, a strong story works. And I have stopped doing films just because somebody has requested me, or is a friend. A large-hearted person is a beokuf, an idiot. Even on planes, they ask you to wear the mask first in case of an emergency before helping others. Till the time you oblige people they'll say Salman is large-hearted etc, the moment you refuse they'll say, Salman badal gaya hain. You get me a good script, I will be a fool not to do it.

What do you think of other stars?
To reach the top, you need to have certain qualities. Aamir is fantastic at his work. Look at how he pulled off an action film, Ghajini. Shah Rukh has the amazing romantic intensity. Amitabh Bachchan is the most professional, most hardworking man even now. Akshay Kumar has tremendous, horse-like focus. Ajay has got his own charm, his own audience. For middle- and lower-middle-class audiences, the only entertainment is cinema. Going to the movies is like a picnic. If we can't entertain them, give them value for their money, shame on us.

Some would say you have been unfair to SRK on the airport controversy. Doesn't racial profiling bother you? Have you never felt that people behaved in a certain manner with you because you are a Muslim?
I don't think Shah Rukh has ever gone through that. He has been politically correct, there are no court cases against him…they still detained him, and he felt humiliated. They were doing their job.

Let me put this directly: what is your problem with the man who lives on the other side of Bandstand? You used to be friends once.
It's just that our thinking doesn't tally. But the world's made of all sorts of people. I did not like what he said once. He respects my family, I respect his. We just don't see eye to eye. Weird things happened one night. It could have been sorted out then and there.
Next morning I came home. But I found that it was blown out of proportion, obviously not from my side.

It was just a joke at a party, wasn't it?
(Looks across, intensely) It was not a joke.
I don't want to talk about it, but as one grows, one becomes magnanimous, more secure…chalo, god has given so much. But not in his case.
I have my family –– my parents, brothers, sisters, everybody. He doesn't have anybody above him. So perhaps it is lack of…guidance perhaps. Or may be some sort of a fear. May be if I were in his place, I would behave exactly like that.

Do you respect Shah Rukh professionally?
He is very effective. Great script sense. He has come up the hard way, from TV. How he has climbed is his problem. But he has climbed a long way up. For me it is not about climbing, it is about growing.

Who are your best friends?
Monish [Behl], but I don't get to meet him often. Sadiq. A couple of my childhood friends have died. Barry, who was in shipping, died in a shipwreck. Dilip was in the US. He died very recently.

Who is the biggest star in Bollywood now?
(Ponders for unusually long) This is the question I want to ask you.

Isn't this your interview?
I want to be really modest here, can't be. It's a difficult question you have asked me and to say the right thing would sound pompous, arrogant. (Ponders again) Chalo I have an answer. Jiski bhi last picture badi hit hain, he's the biggest.
My father says if you want to give your rivals a gift, arrive late for a shoot, sign the wrong films, get drunk, get into trouble…

You have given them quite a few gifts in that case…
(Laughs out loud) Quite a few. But Sanju has given more such gifts than me. If he hadn't, nobody could have dislodged Sanju from the top position. He's a man's man and a ladies' man.

Don't you feel Amitabh Bachchan can still give the big four – you, SRK, Aamir, Akshay Kumar – a run for your money?
He has been there for such a long time, the respect if definitely there as an actor. He was the biggest star there was ever…ever. Among his contemporaries, Dharamji is not interested, VK sir [Vinod Khanna] would do a film once in a while. But Amitji has the passion to go on and on.
Now, we don't have anybody who can play father or god (in God Tussi Great Ho) better than Amitji. Even though Jackie is playing father, he can't do it like Amitji; Jackie is far too young.

Has Salman Khan mellowed down from the wild brat who allegedly had brawls over girlfriends, hunted wildlife and ran over people with his car, to being more of a thinking man?
Nothing has changed.

Are you still as impulsive?
I'm the same guy. Being at the wrong place at the wrong time was part of my destiny. And from there media taking it to a different, negative level was my destiny too, so was going to jail.

Would you still react if somebody bad-mouthed a friend in front of you?
Yes. But I'd ask my friends not to react if somebody bad-mouthed me in front of them.

Have you got more love from your audiences than your contemporaries?
There's no comparison. If people had seen an Aamir or Shah Rukh go through what I went through, they'd have given them far more affection. People have seen me as a real person. For them, Salman 'apna bachcha hain, apna bhai hain'. Also, over time, start doing away with your insecurities, start getting more and more magnanimous, and you will get love.

There are fatwahs against you celebrating Ganpati in your house. Haven't you ever worried that it might alienate thousands of your Muslim fans?
First came human and then came religion. Muslims don't like bad Muslims; Hindus don't like bad Hindus. Fatwa is an opinion. Nobody is allowed to issue fatwas. The relationship is between me, the banda, and god.

Are you buying an IPL team?
Yes, I want to buy an IPL team. I am interested. So is Lalit. He and I have discussed this. It is a long process, involves bidding and all that.

Which team do you want to buy? Kolkata Knight Riders?
No no. I want to buy one of the two new teams that they are going to introduce. People think I want to buy a team because of an ego hassle with Shah Rukh. Suniel [Shetty] put it very well the other day…he said I don't think somebody will put hundreds of crores for an ego hassle.

You like cricket?
My father and brother are crazy about it. I am not that ardent a fan, but once I'm into it, I'll make sure things work.

Is everything fine between Katrina and you?
Ya, ya. Everybody has problems. My parents still have problems, boss. When I get to know that something's not happening, I'll tell you.

Do media reports about closeness between John Abraham and Katrina bother you?
I had asked her to do the film. I don't like him too much. But I asked Katrina to not be influenced by my thinking. He had apparently removed her from a film a long time ago. She was not very comfortable. Right now she is in a position to kick him out. But I told her it is the director's film, she should do it.
Just like with Karan Arjun, Shah Rukh tried to get me out of the film but when we did it, I told him we are now going to play brothers from not one but two births, so let's be like brothers. Ask me for anything.

You are apparently against heroines exposing on screen.
People say I keep on saying 'Don't expose, don't expose.' There's a theory behind this. The audience doesn't want to see you like that. They want you as girlfriend, or want to marry you. They don't want to share you with others.

So your advice doesn't stem from possessiveness?
That also is there. But frankly, exposure doesn't work in this industry. That's why I say, 'Upar se thoda sa upar, neeche se thoda sa neeche.' About clothes, that is.
When the girls come in, the producer or director says, 'iska kapda chhota karo, aur chhota karo.' Then they become established heroines and refuse to bare. And when they are on their way out, they find the younger lot baring, and go back to it. I don't think they should do it.

You still haven't bit the bait, but do you feel marriage still works as an institution?
Of course it does. My parents' marriage has worked beautifully. I would like to get married at some point.

How many kids do you want to have?
I don't know kitne ho sakte hain. Two-three may be.

With whom?
(Laughs) Unless something is confirmed, I can't say anything. If signing a paper means you have married, then sorry I didn't do that. And if signing a divorce paper means you are divorced, sorry I didn't do that either.

What beyond acting?
Being human [his NGO]. There is nothing greater than touching people's lives, addressing their suffering, bringing dignity.

Salman is not buying any IPL team, says brother Sohail

There was a buzz yesterday that Salman Khan is planning to buy an Indian Premier Premier League (IPL) cricket team, like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty.

Salman met IPL commissioner Lalit Modi yesterday at a suburban Mumbai hotel, after which he told the media that the actor had shown interest in buying an IPL team, "He has been interested in buying a team for quite some time.

Today, we had a brief meeting and I explained how to go about with the task. I can assure you that Salman is not the only star who is thinking of buying a team. I have had around 28 queries and the list will surely go up," he said. Modi also admitted that having a film star added to the glitter of the event. "It does add to the spark," he said.

According to Modi, the price tag attached to a new IPL team would be in the region of $200 - 300 million. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra shelled out almost $15 million for a 12 per cent stake in Rajasthan Royals.

However a source close to Salman says, "He bumped into Lalit Modi at a hotel in Bandra and started chatting with him. It was an informal discussion. Salman asked him how he was, what's happening with the IPL and some other details but that was it.

This talk of Salman buying an IPL team has been going on forever. It's just that celebrities bring certain glamour to IPL and people want stars to be associated with them - like Akshay Kumar was the brand ambassador of the Delhi Daredevils. Similarly, many want Salman to be the brand ambassador of their teams."

Salman's brother Sohail Khan says, "It's not true. Salman is not buying any IPL team. Yesterday when he was shooting for Dus Ka Dum I called up bhai and asked him whether it was true and he denied it."

Sallu - SRK battle on the field

After the last controversy about Sallu’s comments on SRK’s detainment, Salman is now planning on buying an IPL team as his arch nemesis.

Salman Khan met up with IPL Chairman Lalit Modi at a 5 star hotel recently and discussed the possibility of buying a team for the next premier league in 2010. Lalit told the press, ‘He came to discuss the possibility of owning an IPL team, I think he is serious about it. The IPL will be expanded to a 10-team league in 2011.’

Apart from Salman, good friends Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt have also been contemplating on buying their own teams. But isn’t it surprising enough that wherever you find SRK, Sallu is always lurking around the corners. While his last comment had people burning his posters in front of his house, Salman just cant seem to back off from the race of one-upping Shah Rukh in any field whatsoever.

Still, it wont be that easy as Sallu will have to shell more money than his contemporaries as this season, prices have been set to a cool 1,000 crore. Sources say Salman hasn’t yet decided whether or not he will buy an existing or new team.

But considering how Shah Rukh’s team fared this season he’s only going to have mighty competition next time around. Who knows maybe he might just call it a truce and sell his team to Sallu, what say?

SRK-baiting interviewers are only too happy to get Salman's priceless quotes, the recent being 'Shahrukh Khan is an insecure man.'

Wait till SRK attends another press conference.

LATEST SHAH RUKH KHAN NEWS @ SRKTHEDON.BLOGSPOT.COM

Salman to buy an IPL team!

Bollywood action hero Salman Khan is the latest cine star to join the Indian Premier League (IPL) gravy train and has expressed interest in buying a team.

Salman met IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi here Tuesday and was briefed about the nitty-grittes of buying an IPL franchise.

The fourth season of the IPL in 2011 will see two new teams and they would be up for grabs through a bidding process later this year.

Modi said Salman is interested in buying an IPL team.

"He has been interested to buy a team for quite some time," Modi added.

"Today we had a brief meeting and I explained him how to go about with the task. I can assure you that Salman is not the only star who is thinking to buy a team. I have had around 28 queries and the list will surely go up," he said.

IPL vice-president Niranjan Shah told IANS that Salman is a serious buyer and will bid for one of the two new teams.

"Salman is a serious buyer and is contemplating to buy an IPL team. He came along with couple of his friends and was briefed by Lalit on the procedure to buy IPL franchise," said Shah.

Shah went on to add that cities like Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Vishakhaptanam are in fray to be the hometown for new teams.

"It will be an open tender process and the city that gets the highest bidder will be the new IPL team," he said.

Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla are the co-owners of Kolkata Knight Riders while Preity Zinta is also a joint owner of Kings XI Punjab. Shilpa Shetty and her boyfriend Raj Kundra also bought some stakes in Rajasthan Royals.