The game of IPL is played as much on the sidelines as it is on the field. When Lalit Modi was usurped of his title as the IPL commissioner, there was a bitter fight ensuing between him and Srinivasan. A reliable source associated with Srinivasan alleges that Lalit Modi took the help of an Israeli company to hack into the email accounts of Arun Jaitley and Srinivasan; the deal had apparently costs Rs 16 crore. But Srinivasan played the enmity game with equal vigour and also took the services of another Israeli company, and the deal cost nothing less than one million pounds. This agency allegedly hacked into the email accounts of Lalit Modi and got hold of crucial documents that are grabbing the headlines today, and whose strings are attached to Sushma and Vasundhara. Sources also say that in the name of broadcasting rights of IPL, Modi had a MoU with a foreign company for a deal worth Rs 450 crore. The channel had even transferred the first installment of Rs 125 crore. Even today, the BCCI is unable to trace that money. The past is sitting like a snake ready to pounce. The first rays of the sun might be struggling to burst through, but darkness sits hunched under.

A few days after Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka were in London, they flew to Turin in Italy. Sonia’s mother lives there and is unwell at present. It is said that she has cancer and her health is deteriorating rapidly. Rahul and Priyanka’s maternal grandmother may be 92 years old, but her zest for life is commendable. She would ride the bicycle until she was 88, and could be seen going shopping on it. Both Rahul and Priyanka are extremely close to their grandmother, and Rahul often goes to Italy to meet her and his uncle (Sonia’s sister’s husband). These were relations only by association, but they were given life by people, who taught how to nurture and nourish them.

Does anyone know where Gautam Adani is nowadays? While Mukesh Ambani could be seen in Delhi for the Digital India Week, Gautam Adani is on a road trip to Europe with his son and a non-resident Indian. Adani kicked off his travels from Amsterdam in the Netherlands on July 1, and from there will move on to Stuttgart, Geneva and Paris. He plans to stay in Europe until July 16, after which he plans to return to India. But then what do the autumn leaves know – which branch it was that they fell from, and where they will land.

After Lalit Modi’s Twitter war, many of his friends and associates have started to avoid him. He used to get along really well with Prince Charles, but now the latter wouldn’t even like to see his face. Trying to collect funds for Indian elephants, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall took an auto ride in London. It is worth remembering that both of them are also joint presidents of the Elephant Family. Invitations were sent out to non-resident Indians for the same organisation’s Royal Auto Reception for Tuesday, June 30, at London’s Leicester House. Sources reveal that Lalit Modi’s name was included in the list, but was struck off on the prince’s insistence. Politics is a game for the cold-hearted – one who plays with fire has to contend with cold shoulders.

Upset at seeing its community’s heavyweight leader Anant Kumar Singh in prison, the powerful Bhumihars are angry with Lalu and Nitish. It is possible that the Bhumihar votes in coming elections may not go to Janta Parivar but to the saffron party. That is because for some time now, in the state’s BJP, Narendra Modi is paying a lot of attention to C P Thakur, a move that has made the confidence of Bhumihars grow. A few days ago, Thakur had also organised a big programme on national poet Ramdhari Sigh Dinkar at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi, which was attended by the prime minister himself. Few people, however, knew Dinkar’s caste before the programme. In August, the prime minister will attend a programme on the poet in his village in Bihar. This is so that they can win over the hearts of the Bhumihars, and get substantial votes in the Bihar Assembly elections. The entire game is to make the big appear small. The big ones have their feet covered in blood, and their hands brandish unsheathed swards.

If playing with fire means the danger of getting burnt, the Opposition parties will have to display the art of dodging flames and fire. That is because the Modi government has prepared its strategy for giving it back to the Congress prince. Along with a few of its associate parties, the Congress has decided that it will not let the monsoon session of the Parliament function from July 21, until Sushma, Smriti, Vasundhara and Pankaja’s resignations don’t come in. The strategists in the Modi government have also come to a conclusion that no resignations will happen based on trial by media, and the government would rather struggle against the Opposition rather than throw in the towel. The government, too, has made its preparations to put the Congress against the wall, has got its details about Rahul’s foreign trips, the financial details of the same have also been got, and the agencies attached to the finance ministry are giving final touches to the legal aspects of this. It is possible that the income tax department might serve a notice to Rahul about it, and the ED might call him to the office regarding the same. Several matters related to Robert Vadra might also come to light. All in all, the monsoon session will see the Congress attacking the government, with the government ready to reply adequately.

It is not necessary that the rooster announces the morning each day; a cat on the prowl might change all that. Several secrets exist in Lalit Modi’s three-storeyed house at Cadogen Square at Knightsbridge. Sources reveal that if Modi is pushed into the corner anymore than he already is, several of these secrets might tumble out. Lalit Modi has his office on the ground floor of the building, lives on the second one and the top floor is reserved for close friends and occasional parties. Sources reveal that a luxurious suite at London’s Bulgari Hotel is booked for Lalit Modi for all days of the year, where he has his friends from India stay, most of whom are politicians, prominent officers and journalists. He also financially assists Parliamentarians, politicians, and ministers visiting London from India. A few days ago, an influential minister in the UP government shared his fears with some of his confidantes that a CD of his stay in London might have been made, which might be made public in the days to come. Some BJP Parliamentarians, who have enjoyed Lalit Modi’s hospitality, disagree that any cameras are installed in his bungalow; he is of the belief that Lalit Modi is a great friend who is always eager to help Indians who visit London.

Since ancient times, looking for prey involves the same caveman tactics; the only things that have changed are the weapons and the strategy for it. A new tweet from Lalit Modi has created a storm, which says Priyanka and Robert met him at a restaurant in London two years ago. Timmy Sarna, who is mentioned in the tweet, is DLF magnate K D Singh’s daughter Piya Singh’s husband. Timmy gets along like a house on fire with Robert and Priyanka. A couple of years ago when Timmy took the two to dinner at a restaurant in London, Lalit Modi was already present there, and Timmy knew Lalit from before. After polite greetings, Lalit said to Timmy, “Won’t you introduce me to your guests?” after which Timmy formally introduced Priyanka and Robert to Lalit Modi. And the matter concluded; Lalit went back to his dinner table and Priyanka, Robert and Timmy got busy at theirs.

The winds here whisper of his existence, and its knocks on doors and windows call out his name, all you need is ears to listen. Ever since Lalit Modi has grabbed headlines, politicians visiting London from India are trying to avoid meeting him. A few days ago, Pankaja Munde, Rahul-Priyanka and Robert Vadra, Vasundhara’s son and Parliamentarian Dushyant Singh, Smriti Irani (who was in London with her husband and children), none of them showed an interest in making Lalit Modi. If we talk about prominent political figures, the last one to meet Lalit Modi was Uddhav Thackeray, his wife Rashmi Thackeray and son Aditya Thackeray. The Thackeray family had dinner with Lalit Modi at the London’s famous restaurant Coya, which is famous for its Peruvian food.

It depends on how deep you are ready to go for your piece of the sky – your truth. Dream girl Hema Malini feels she too has got her share of that. A few days ago, when she went to her constituency Mathura, she had to suffer the ire of people there. The anxious public there complained to the Parliamentarian that not even one development project had taken off until now. In such circumstances, she should not expect to win the election from there. Sources reveal that Hema Malini was upset with this, and she too announced in Mathura that if that is the case, she too would not like to contest from Mathura again. After the episode, three women journalists went to meet Hema at her apartment in New Delhi’s Ferozshah Road. After small talk and tea, they wanted to ask her where she would contest elections from next time. If sources are to be believed, her instant answer was, “Rajasthan.” The women journalists then said that the party will bite dust in Rajasthan in the next elections. To this, Hema laughed and said, “What’s the way out, then? If not Rajasthan, will I contest from Pakistan?”