- Congress during the UPA regime had enough time to act against Lalit Modi but, did not do so. It is now trying to put the blame on BJP. Congress is trying to hide its own failures in bringing Lalit Modi to book for the charges against him: BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma.
- Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje calls up BJP chief Amit Shah, seeks appointment amid controversy over Lalit Modi: Sources.
- Why is the Prime Minister silent on this 'Modigate' : Sachin Pilot.
- Congress to start agitation in Rajasthan from tomorrow demanding resignation of CM Vasundhara Raje: PCC chief Sachin Pilot.
- Sushma ji had an excuse of 'humanitarian grounds', but Vasundhara Raje ji does not have that excuse too: Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
- Sushma Swaraj's husband and her daughter were counsels for Lalit Modi for 20 and 4 years respectively, knowing well that EAM and her ministry are dealing with a case involving an offender named Lalit Modi, whom they represent: Surjewala.
- Sushma Swaraj was maintaining a family relationship with a fugitive of law since 20 years-both as LoP and EAM. Sushma Swaraj never disclosed this relationship either to the Parl ethics or to the GOI, which is compulsory under Code of Conduct. This is also clear that Smt. Sushma Swaraj called on the UK envoy to India that travel documents be handed over to Lalit Modi. It also clear that she also spoke to Chairman of Parliament Home Affairs of UK Mr Keith Vazz. It is also clear that the external affairs ministry did not even consult their counsel Rajiv Mehra: Surjewala.
- According to latest figures released Lalit Modi is an accused of a Rs 1700 Scam and as many as 16 cases are slapped by ED on him: Surjewala.
- In the last 72 hours, after 'Modigate' scandal surfaced, the BJP top leadership has been totally exposed. The ED, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence was used by the BJP to help money launderer. The scandal has exposed murky deals, willful lies, non disclosure of personal and conflict of interest by senior BJP leadership. Doublespeak of BJP in defending the indefensible stands exposed now: Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
- Who took the decision not to file against the Delhi HC order that restored passport to Lalit Modi? If Sushma wanted to support Lalit on humanitarian grounds, she should have asked him to go to Indian High Commission: P Chidambaram.
- When Lalit Modi left India there was no lookout notice against him: Chidambaram.
- The government must take responsibility of Sushma Swaraj's actions, says the Congress leader.
- Government must use its authority to ensure Lalit Modi returns to India and face ED probe: Chidambaram.
- Lalit Modi is an Indian citizen, what steps is the government are taking to prosecute him under Indian laws, asks Chidambaram.
- Charges made against us are laughable charges, the letters will speak for themselves. They are the best evidence: P Chidambaram.
- The conduct of Sushma Swaraj raises a number of important questions. Why the GOI not releasing the letters between the Finance Minister of India and UK Chancellor of Exchequer. When the division bench of HC set aside the cancelation of Lalit Modi, who took the decision not to appeal against it: Chidambaram.
- UPA doesn't issue a notice, ED issues notices. Lalit Modi did not appear when the summons were made. If UPA was hounding Lalit Modi why does Arun Jaitley say that in 15 show cause notices have been issued? Is NDA hounding him too, asks the former Union Minister.
- ED requested my counterpart the UK chancellor, we discussed the matter as a bilateral meeting. The letters between me and my UK counterpart, I request that those letters exchanged should be made public: Chidambaram.
- Who took the decision to issue a fresh passport to Lalit Modi? Govt must make this public, says Congress leader.
- Lalit Modi was being investigated under laws of India with no right to travel outside India or to live in UK. In 2010, when the ED was investigating the matter, at the request of ED, Lalit Modi's passport was canceled, says Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
- Sushma Swaraj's case was of a compassionate intervention for humanitarian cause - RS Prasad
- We need to find out facts about the issue, new speculations everyday do not help. We have already responded, says Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Vasundhara Raje-Lalit Modi row.
- I did tell him that he should come back to India and after that discussions could be held with the government – Sharad Pawar
- I had met Lalit Modi in London and asked him to come back to India; he had said there is security risk which is why he doesn't want to return, says Sharad Pawar amid reports that he had helped Modi secure travel documents.
- NCP chief Sharad Pawar reacts to the raging controversy, says this entire issue is being disproportionately publicised.
- He is enjoying (holidaying) there and we are fighting here over the issue. He should first be arrested - Uddhav Thackeray
- If Lalit Modi has committed any crime, then everything that is required should be done and he should be arrested, says Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
- Humanitarian grounds don't call for violation of law, rules can't be violated no matter how much the compassion, says Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge while reacting to Lalit Modi-Sushma Swaraj controversy.
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Poonam Chand Bhandari, an advocate, has claimed that former IPL chief Lalit Modi transferred crores of rupees to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's son Dushyant Singh using a fictitious company.
"Vasundhara Raje's son Dushyant Singh and his wife Nihalika created a firm by the name Nihant Heritage Hotel Ltd. Rs 10 lakh was the official capital and they invested Rs 1 lakh, the price of the share was Rs 10 (per share). Lalit Modi opened a company called Ananda Hotel Private Limited, he gave Rs 3 crore 80 lakhs unsecured loan to Nihant Hotel," Bhandari told ANI.
"After that, he bought shares costing Rs 10 at Rs 96,190 (per share). It means that he diverted almost nine crore rupees plus three crore eighty lakh rupees of black money. These companies are fictitious, you won't find them at the registered addresses," he added.
Bhandari further said that buying the shares at such inflated prices clearly indicate that black money is being transferred from one company to the other.
- Sushma Swaraj today reacted angrily to a tweet suggesting she took favours to get her daughter a seat in a medical college through the northeast quota. "My daughter is a barrister and Oxford graduate. What you say in absolutely false," she replied to the tweet. The Twitter handle 'Soch @pakoed' had insinuated that "Sushma is no stranger to taking and giving favours! Her daughter studied through NorthEast quota in medical college."
- The Rajasthan State Congress today passed a proposal asking for CM Vasundhara Raje's resignation. The proposal was taken up at its executive meeting in Udaipur.
- Youth Congress workers hold protest against Sushma Swaraj in Kolkata.
- Former finance minister P Chidambaram today said that letters written to British authorities on Lalit Modi case during UPA rule should be released as they will answer the former IPL commissioner's accusations against him and Congress. "The complete answer to Mr Lalit Modi's accusations against UPA can be found in the letters to the UK Chancellor. Release them," Chidambaram, a senior Congress leader, tweeted.
The complete answer to Mr. Lalit Modi's accusations against the UPA can be found in the letters to the UK Chancellor. Release them.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 17, 2015
- It is clear that this government brought 'achche din' only for legal offenders and people who stock black money, says AAP leader Ashish Khetan.
- Congress' Shobha Oza says party leader Rajeev Shukla has clarified that he hasn't been in touch with Lalit Modi for the last three years. The clarification comes after Modi claimed that among several other leaders, Shukla too had helped him secure travel documents.
- Sushma Swaraj is, meanwhile, attending a Union Cabinet meeting. The current row may figure in the meeting agenda, say sources.
- News channels are also reporting that Vasundhara Raje has told top BJP leaders that she never testified for Lalit Modi.
- Meanwhile, as per news channels, sources in the External Affairs Ministry have denied that Sushma Swaraj had a private meeting with Lalit Modi in London late last year. Earlier, media reports had claimed that Swaraj had met the ex-IPL chief in the British capital in October last year.
- Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje are facing serious allegations, PM must come out and take actions against them - PL Punia
- Helping a person (Lalit Modi) who has serious charges against him, is a very serious matter, says Congress leader PL Punia.
- She (Raje) said, not only she is going to help Lalit Modi but gave in writing that help extended must not be disclosed to any Indian investigating agency. This means she knew she is breaking the law. BJP must come clean on this, PM must break his silence - Sachin Pilot
- A person (Lalit Modi) who created black money, indulged in illegal activities, is being helped by Rajasthan CM. This needs clarification from her, says Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
- Time will tell what decision PM Narendra Modi and his government will take on the matter - Ashok Gehlot
- What should I say about Vasundhara Raje and Lalit Modi? The entire state and its people known about them, says former Rajasthan chief minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot.
Lalit Modi admits closeness to Sushma, Vasundhara
Amid the row over his travel documents, former IPL chief Lalit Modi on Tuesday admitted close relations with Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and said he has been "over criticised" and "taken to task" by the former UPA government.
"At the end I have done nothing wrong. I've gone by book... I have been over criticised, have been taken to task by the (UPA) government for no reason for all," he said in an interview to a news channel.
"The entire UPA government was against me," he said, as reported by IANS.
Modi added that former finance minister P Chidambaram tried to deport him to India.
He challenged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prove charges against him and said "Swarajs" have been his friends for over 20 years, and that Vasundhara Raje is a "family friend".
Asked if he was cool about Swaraj possibly losing her job because of her support to him, he said: "I am not perfectly cool and calm about someone doing an honest losing their job. (Shashi) Tharoor lost job because he lied. He lied he had nothing to do with the Kochi team..."
He said he sought help from Swaraj and Raje so that he could be with his ailing wife, and admitted making call to Swaraj.
He said he could have given up his right as Indian citizen and taken another citizenship but he did not do so because he wanted to prove that his passport was taken wrongly.
Modi also said Swaraj's daughter Bansuri has been his lawyer for four years.
"I am close to a lot of politicians," he added.
"Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel also helped me with travel papers... Rajiv Shukla also helped me with travel documents," he said.
Jaitley backs Sushma as Vasundhara's name crops up
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday got strong backing from her colleague, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who termed "baseless" all allegations against her in the Lalit Modi issue. The BJP's Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's name also cropped up in the billowing controversy.
The Congress has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe in the matter.
Appearing at a press conference, held ostensibly on the Jammu and Kashmir flood rehabilitation measures, Jaitley said to a query: "Let me clarify, all the allegations are baseless. The minister (Sushma Swaraj) and the party chief (Amit Shah) have given statements... she acted bona fide with good intentions. The whole government and party share the same view on this. There is no doubt on this."
Jaitley's statement came two days after the controversy broke out over Swaraj procuring travel documents for the former IPL chief who is charged with financial impropriety and who has been staying in Britain since 2010.
Jaitley's defence came after three other BJP colleagues -- Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar -- spoke in Swaraj's support.
"Our ministers are capable of taking decisions, and all decisions taken by the government are the collective responsibility of the government," Jaitley said.
There was speculation as to why Jaitley, who also holds the information and broadcasting portfolio, had not spoken out in favour of his colleague.
Social media has been rife with speculation that the leak to the media of the email exchanges between Swaraj, Lalit Modi and Indian-origin British MP Keith Vaz was the job of an "insider", especially with Swaraj getting top rating for her good work as minister.
Also on Tuesday, the name of Vasundhara Raje cropped up in the controversy, adding a new twist, with allegations that she testified in favour of Modi's British immigration application in 2011.
The revelation apparently was made in a document released by Lalit Modi's legal team where it is mentioned that Raje, who was then leader of opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, said she was in favour of Modi's immigration application on the strict clause that her name will not be revealed to the Indian authorities. The authenticity of the document has not been proved.
Raje, in a press note issued by her media advisor, later said: "I know the family of Lalit Modi. But I am not aware which document people are talking about."
Sushma Swaraj has admitted she helped Modi procure documents to travel to Portugal last year for treatment of his cancer-stricken wife on "humanitarian grounds".
The episode has caused huge embarrassment to the government as Lalit Modi is wanted by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged financial bungling in the money-spinning IPL.
He has been living in London since 2010 after the ED issued a (light) blue corner notice against him for probe in the matter.
During the press conference, Jaitley to questions on the Enforcement Directorate notice to Lalit Modi said the former IPL chief has been issued show cause notice in 15 out of the 16 cases and "in one case the investigation is still pending".
He said a blue corner notice served against Modi by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence at the request of the ED in 2010, "continues to be valid". (With IANS inputs)
