Samir Modi is the younger brother of Lalit Modi, the former Indian Premier League chairman
NEW DELHI (India CSR): Businessman Samir Modi, Executive Director of Godfrey Phillips India and brother of fugitive ex-IPL chairman Lalit Modi, was arrested by Delhi Police at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Thursday. The arrest follows the registration of a rape case against him in Southeast Delhi (SD) earlier this month.
Arrest at Airport
According to police officials, Samir Modi was detained upon his arrival from abroad. He was immediately taken into custody after investigators confirmed an FIR had been lodged against him on September 10 at the New Friends Colony police station. The case was registered under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Police sources said the complaint was originally filed in 2019 but formal proceedings gathered pace recently, leading to his arrest. After being produced before a trial court, Modi was remanded to one-day police custody. He will be presented before Saket Court on Friday as the investigation continues.
Allegations and Counterclaims
The complainant has accused Modi of sexual assault. Reports also suggest that a monetary settlement was allegedly demanded by the complainant, running up to Rs 50 crore, though these claims have not been verified. The police have refrained from issuing a detailed statement, stressing that the matter is under active investigation.
Legal experts note that the arrest comes at a sensitive time, given the Modi family’s history of high-profile disputes and ongoing litigations.
History of Legal Disputes
Samir Modi is no stranger to controversy. Over the past few years, he has been at the center of several legal and business battles:
- Rs 11,000 crore property dispute – A long-running case involving his late father K.K. Modi’s estate, where Samir, his mother Bina Modi, and his siblings are locked in litigation.
- Assault case in 2024 – He alleged that his mother’s security officer physically attacked him during a Godfrey Phillips India board meeting, calling it a conspiracy to oust him. His mother denied the charge.
- Defamation suit – Two Godfrey Phillips directors filed a case against him in a Delhi court, which issued summons earlier this year.
- Shareholding disputes – Legal tussles over stock purchases and control of the company have further strained relations within the Modi family.
Connection to Lalit Modi
Samir Modi is the younger brother of Lalit Modi, the former Indian Premier League chairman who has lived abroad for over a decade. Lalit faces his own set of investigations by Indian agencies relating to alleged financial irregularities. The latest action against Samir adds to the Modi family’s mounting legal troubles and public scrutiny.
Ongoing Probe
Delhi Police officials maintained that the arrest was carried out strictly in line with procedure and that the investigation would “consider all aspects.” The police have also said that they are treating the matter with sensitivity, given the nature of the charges.
With Samir Modi now under judicial watch, the case is expected to unfold in the courts in the coming days. For the Modi family, already divided by boardroom battles and long-drawn inheritance disputes, the arrest adds yet another layer of complexity to their public and legal challenges.
(India CSR)
