The video, shown during Modi’s conversation with former Australian captain Michael Clarke on a podcast, clearly captured the moment Harbhajan Singh slapped Sreesanth during the post-match handshake between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). The incident, which shocked fans at the time, went down as one of the biggest controversies in IPL history. As a result, Harbhajan Singh was handed a suspension for the remainder of the season.
While the matter had largely faded from public memory, Modi’s decision to release the footage has reignited debate. Harbhajan Singh, visibly displeased, hit back at the former IPL commissioner, accusing him of acting out of selfish motives. He criticized Modi for dragging the past into the spotlight and insisted that the video should never have been released.
The episode, once buried, is now back in headlines—drawing both criticism of Modi and renewed discussion of one of the league’s most controversial moments.
Harbhajan Singh Slams Lalit Modi Over Video Leak
Harbhajan Singh has strongly criticized the leak of an old video, calling it a selfish attempt to revive something long forgotten. Speaking to Instant Bollywood, he shared his thoughts on the matter:
“The way the video has been leaked is wrong. It shouldn’t have happened. There might be selfish motives behind it. Something that happened 18 years ago has been forgotten by people, and now they are being reminded of it unnecessarily.”
Reflecting on the incident, Harbhajan admitted he still feels remorse:
“I feel bad about what happened. We were playing, and everyone had their own thoughts at the time. Mistakes were made, and yes, we do feel ashamed of them.”
He further acknowledged the incident as unfortunate and took responsibility for his actions:
“Yes, the video has gone viral. It was an unfortunate incident, and I have admitted on multiple occasions that I made a mistake. Humans make mistakes, and I did too. I have prayed to Lord Ganesh for forgiveness if I err again. Mistakes happen.”