With politicians, cops and cricketers all being dragged in, the Lalit Modi saga is turning into a full-blown controversy with many twists and turns. A look of people who've got into trouble courtesy Modi
From politicians to police officers and cricketers all being dragged in, the Lalit Modi saga is turning into a full-blown controversy with many twists and turns. As we wait for the next chapter to unfold, here’s a list of people who’ve got into trouble courtesy Modi.
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Sushma Swaraj: It all began with the External Affairs Minister. Sushma Swaraj found herself at the centre of a row after admitting to having helped the former IPL chief procure documents to travel to Portugal last July on "humanitarian grounds". The incident was triggered after Britain's Sunday Times reported an email exchange between influential Labour MP Keith Vaz and head of UK Visas and Immigration Sarah Rapson, citing Sushma Swaraj, to facilitate travel documents for Lalit Modi. The Sunday Times in its report said: "Leaked correspondence reveals how Vaz cited Sushma Swaraj, India's foreign minister, to the Home Office in an effort to expedite the case of Lalit Modi, a mutual acquaintance."
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Vasundhara Raje: The name of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje cropped up a couple of days later with allegations that she testified in favour of the former IPL chief's British immigration application in 2011. The revelation apparently was made in a statement released by Lalit Modi's legal team. The statement mentioned that Raje, who was then leader of opposition in the Rajasthan assembly, said she was in favour of Lalit Modi's immigration application but on the strict condition that her name will not be revealed to the Indian authorities.
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Rakesh Maria: The Mumbai police commissioner also found himself in the eye of a storm after a news channel aired a photo of Maria meeting Modi at the insistence of the latter's lawyer in London last year. Following the revelation, Maria had to submit a report on the meeting to the Maharashtra government, explaining his reasons for the meet. In his statement, Maria said that Modi repeatedly kept requesting for Mumbai Police's intervention against the underworld.
Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja: In an explosive tweet on Saturday, the former IPL chief alleged on Saturday that Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo had taken bribes from a bookie who was also a builder. The three are all members of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings. Modi claimed through a series of tweets on Saturday that real estate tycoon of HDIL.co Baba Diwan had given apartments to the players in addition to money. He said when he was the IPL chief he "had banned him (Baba) from bidding for any IPL team". Modi claimed that Diwan was a good friend of Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra, who have been implicated in the 2013 IPL betting and match fixing case by the Supreme Court.
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Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra: Modi did not spare the Gandhi family as well. He took to Twitter recently claim that he met Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra in London last year. "Happy to meet the Gandhi Family in London. I had run into Robert and Priyanka separately in a restaurant - they were with Timmy Sarna. He has my no. They can call me. Will tell them what I feel about them exactly," the former IPL chief tweeted. The tweet gave ammunition to the BJP to hit back at the Congress.
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Chris Cairns: In a 2010 tweet, Modi accused the former all-rounder of match-fixing during his time in the now defunct Indian Cricket League. Cairns won £90,000 after he sued Modi over the tweet. However, Cairns was later charged with perjury in connection to the Modi libel trial.