Minal Modi is the wife of Lalit Modi, an Indian businessman and former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Minal Modi, formerly known as Minal Aswani, entered this world on the 9th of September, 1954, in Nigeria, Africa. Her father, Pesu Aswani, was a well-respected businessman in Nigeria, while her mother, Indra Aswani, devoted her time to being a homemaker. Minal had a younger sister named Priya Aswani, who pursued her education at the esteemed Inchbald School of Design in London.
Her journey to finding love began with her first marriage to Jack Sagrani, a successful professional who initially worked in Nigeria and London before settling in Saudi Arabia. However, during Minal’s pregnancy with Sagrani’s child, he became entangled in a scandal, leading to his arrest and subsequent seven-month imprisonment in Saudi Arabia. Despite the challenging circumstances, Minal gave birth to their daughter, Karima, in London.
In the late 1980s, Minal made a significant transition, moving from a Gulf country to Delhi, India. During her time in Delhi, she forged a strong friendship with Bina Modi, Lalit Modi’s mother. After navigating through a series of family dramas, Minal and Lalit tied the knot on the 17th of October, 1991. The couple relocated to Mumbai, where Lalit ventured into various business endeavors without achieving notable success.
Their fortunes took a turn when they eventually settled in Rajasthan and crossed paths with the then Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje. Allegedly, Raje played a role in assisting them in establishing a prominent presence within the Rajasthan government, paving the way for their rise as influential figures.
CONTROVERSY
Minal Modi’s name has been associated with a controversy involving her husband, Lalit Modi, and the former External Affairs Minister of India, Sushma Swaraj. Sushma Swaraj faced accusations of favoritism towards Lalit, who was allegedly involved in money laundering, by facilitating his visa to Portugal. The purpose of obtaining the visa was to allow Lalit to be with his wife, Minal, who was undergoing treatment for liver cancer during that period.
DEATH
Following a courageous battle with cancer, Minal Modi peacefully passed away on the 10th of December 2018. Her husband took to social media to share the heartbreaking news of her demise, expressing his grief and announcing her departure from this world.
