Modi, whose family is known for its role in the country’s industrial and business sector, became India’s first mobile telephone service provider Modi Telstra. Later, through a tie-up with photocopy machine major, Xerox, he introduced the facility through his company Modi Xerox.

Modi, a Buddhist by faith, had been serving as president of the Mahabodhi Society since 2004. He was re-elected as president in 2007. Sources in the society, however, cited certain internal differences as being the reason behind his resignation.