India Insight

In India, a thin line separates bravado from infamy. In a country that swears by its Bollywood potboilers, it does not take long to turn a one-time hero into a villain.

And the perfect example is Lalit Modi — once head of India’s $4 billion cricket premier league, he was first removed from his post after a tax scandal and later booted out of the cash-rich Indian cricket board.

Media reports on Thursday say the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a ‘blue alert’ against Modi, after he failed to make himself available for interrogation in the corruption allegations.

Modi, who helped revolutionise cricket with its short, television-friendly format combined with lucrative advertising and cheerleaders in packed arenas which upset many traditionalists, is now left with few backers.

And it shows in his demeanour. The man, who was known for his belligerent defence for a long time, has mellowed down considerably.

Even the Indian media has stopped chasing the Modi saga riding on the back of the Commonwealth Games.

But the story, while it lasted, was a source of entertainment for controversy-loving Indians.

How the cricket mogul handles the fall from grace will be the next enticing chapter in this page-turner.