Rajeev Shukla

2013 IPL Spot-Fixing Scandal

The 2013 IPL Spot-Fixing Scandal, that shook the cricket world, whose dispute went up to Supreme Court of India, took place during Shukla's first tenure as IPL Chairman. The tournament was hit hard by massive spot-fixing and betting allegations involving players and officials. In fact, Shukla was forced to resign from his position as IPL Chairman in June 2013 due to intense public pressure and judicial scrutiny. ^{[17] [18]}

2018 Selection Bribery Sting Operation

Shukla faced intense scrutiny after a sting operation coming in light, wherein his personal executive assistant, Akram Saifi, was found demanding bribes and favors from a local cricketer in exchange for selection in the Uttar Pradesh under-23 junior cricket team. Saifi was forced to resign. Questions were also raised about Shukla's accountability and role, though the matter ended with Saifi. ^{[19] [20]}

Conflict of Interest Notice

Following his election as BCCI Vice-President in December 2020, the BCCI Ethics Officer issued a formal notice to Shukla in January 2021 regarding "conflict of interest" complaints, where it had been claimed he was violating the BCCI constitution by simultaneously holding positions in the state association (UPCA) and in the BCCI. ^[21]

Disqualification and Cooling-Off

Shukla faced multiple challenges after the Lodha Committee reforms. In fact, he got briefly disqualified in 2019 from BCCI over a cooling-off period dispute. Another complaint filed in this regard against him in 2025 was later dismissed by the BCCI Ombudsman. ^{[22] [23]}

Lalit Modi allegations

Lalit Modi, an Indian businessman, who was the founder and first chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and was banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for life on September 25, 2013, made a spate of social media posts and media interviews in May-June 2026.

His May 2026 social media posts alleged Shukla’s close aide Saifi, of running a corrupt exploitation and blackmail racket targeting vulnerable young cricketers. He alleged Saifi of approaching an upcoming, young cricketer aspiring for IPL, asking for huge money. HE alleged Saifi of resorting to blackmail the player through a select journalist. Modi alleged that this type of extortion and manipulation has become rampant in UPCA and IPL. ^[24]

In his June 2026 interviews, including a detailed interview with ANI Editor-in-Chief Smita Prakash, Modi made several sensational claims against many Congress leaders, including ex Congress President Sonia Gandhi. He claimed that ex Congress President Sonia Gandhi had backed the then Minister Shashi Tharoor, who was at the back of Kochi Tuskers. Modi claimed that "all guns were trained on me", naming Ahmed Patel, Pranab Mukherjee, and Shukla, as pressurizing him to clear the Kochi franchise deal on behalf of Gandhi.^{[25][26] [27][28] [29][30] [31][32]}

So far there has been no response from Shukla or the Congress Party on this matter.