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Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday demanded that the BJP government release the letters he had exchanged with UK Chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne, for clarity on the UPA government’s action in trying to bring former IPL head Lalit Modi to India to face charges levelled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The involvement of BJP Ministers and leaders in supporting Lalit Modi smacks of “nepotism, abuse of authority and violation of rules,” he said
In a statement read out to the media, he said that after returning as Finance Minister in August 2012, he had, with the then government’s consent, discussed with Osborne the issue of Lalit Modi, who is being investigated under Indian laws while staying in the UK without a valid passport. He had written two letters to Osborne and received replies, he added. The contents of the letters will clarify the government’s stand then, he said.
Chidambaram dismissed as “laughable and do not deserve a reply” Lalit Modi’s charges that the UPA government then was hounding him. The latter is facing civil and criminal charges under foreign exchange and money laundering laws, he said.
Finance Minister Jaitley had said that show cause notices have been issued by the ED in 15 of the 16 cases against Lalit Modi, Chidambaram recalled. “Is the BJP government too hounding him?” he asked.
If External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj wants to support Lalit Modi in getting travel documents for him, why had she not asked him to get Indian travel papers from the High Commission but advised him to approach the UK authorities, he asked.
When the Division Bench of the High Court set aside the cancellation of Lalit Modi’s passport, who took the decision not to file an appeal to the Supreme Court, he asked. “Who took the decision to issue a fresh passport to Lalit Modi? Will the government make public the file notings on the subject?” he queried.
Chidambaram added: “Lalit Modi now has an Indian passport. He is an Indian citizen subject to Indian laws. What steps has the government taken since the issue of a fresh passport to enforce the summons issued by the ED?”
Chidambaram said the government should come forward and answer these questions.
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