evidence: Modi defended himself arguing that he was not individually responsible for the decisions: BCCI and its committees took these decisions collectively.[45] He refused to return to India, stating that there was a threat to his life. The Mumbai Police endorsed his claim, stating that underworld gangsters had threatened him after he refused to pay extortion money. Dawood Ibrahim and his associate Chhota Shakeel had sent hitmen to kill Modi and his family, when the Modis were on a vacation in Thailand.[46][47]