Lalit Modi has announced that he intends to return to India later this year or early next year after receiving major legal relief in the long-running case linked to the 2009 Indian Premier League season in South Africa.
The former IPL Chairman, who has lived in London since 2010, shared the update in a video posted on Instagram, describing the latest ruling as the conclusion of a legal battle that had lasted more than 16 years. His comments come days after the Appellate Tribunal under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) delivered a significant judgment in the case, as previously reported by cricexec.
Modi says legal battle is finally behind him
Reflecting on the tribunal’s decision, Modi said it had validated the position he had maintained throughout the proceedings.
“I’m really happy with the verdict yesterday. It’s really been a great day. 16 years I have fought and whatever I have been saying to the media and to everybody has finally emerged as the truth. I’m really happy that the tribunal has ruled in my favour,” Modi said.
He also said the outcome had allowed him to move forward after years of legal proceedings while reiterating what he said had always been his priority.
“I was only concerned with the well-being of the IPL and nothing and nothing at all. That is the most dear to me. Now that chapter is behind me, I’m going to move on in my life and I’m looking forward to coming back to India,” he added.
Return to India planned after 16 years
Modi said he expects to travel back to India after the birth of his grandson later this year, outlining the timeframe he currently has in mind.
“I will come back probably end of this year or early next year. My daughter is due with my grandson in October and hopefully everything will be well and I’ll be back in India,” Modi stated.
In a separate post on X, Modi also reflected on his relationship with India despite spending the past 16 years overseas.
“India has always been a part of who I am. The legal process has taken its course, and I respect that. I look forward to visiting my country again, meeting old friends, from time to time and contributing in every positive way I can,” he wrote.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/1AChMVQjQr
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) July 22, 2026
He also clarified that London would remain his permanent home.
“My home remains in London, and that is where I will continue to live, but my heart has never stopped beating for India,” he stated.
Tribunal ruling provided the backdrop
The announcement follows a significant legal victory for Modi in proceedings arising from the IPL’s relocation to South Africa in 2009 after India’s general elections made it impossible to stage the tournament at home.
As previously reported by cricexec, the Appellate Tribunal overturned the principal findings and penalties imposed against Modi after concluding that the Enforcement Directorate had failed to establish his responsibility for the alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations. In its judgment, the Tribunal stated: “He was not in-charge of the affairs and otherwise he has been framed in the case without any material showing his responsibility. The penalty imposed on Shri Lalit Kumar Modi is wholly erroneous is thus interfered.”
The Tribunal also held that the principal overseas remittances connected with staging the tournament were current account transactions that did not require prior Reserve Bank of India approval, rejecting the central basis of the Enforcement Directorate’s case against Modi.
The judgment did not completely overturn the Enforcement Directorate’s case. The Tribunal upheld a ₹4 crore (approx. US$415,000) penalty imposed on the BCCI relating to remittances exceeding amounts reflected in its books of accounts and also upheld a separate FEMA violation concerning the delayed repatriation of ticket-sale proceeds, while reducing the associated penalty from ₹4 crore (approx. US$415,000) to ₹1 crore (approx. US$104,000) after noting the funds were ultimately brought back to India.
A new chapter after a long-running dispute
The ruling brings to a close one of the most significant legal proceedings arising from the IPL’s 2009 relocation to South Africa, ending more than 16 years of litigation connected to the tournament’s staging overseas. For Modi, the decision has paved the way for what he says will be his first visit to India in 16 years, although he has confirmed that London will remain his permanent home.
