Former IPL Chief Lalit Modi made some pretty explosive claims on Tuesday night. He announced that Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had supported the writing of his immigration plea in Britain.
On June 15, The Quint, way ahead of newspapers, had first broken the story about the MoU signed between the Champalimaud Foundation – where Lalit’s wife Minal Modi was being treated – and the Rajasthan government.
The Quint reported that on October 2, 2014, the Lisbon based Champalimaud Foundation signed an agreement with the Government of Rajasthan to establish a state-of-the-art cancer institute with world-class facilities in the state.
What is interesting is that while Minal Modi underwent surgery for breast cancer in August 2014 in Lisbon, the same foundation signed an MoU with the Vasundhara Raje government just two months later.
Lalit Modi and his Politician Friends
In an interview to India Today, Lalit Modi said that he has a “family” relationship with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, whose husband and daughter had provided him with legal services – “free of cost”.
I know Swaraj Kaushal (Sushma’s husband) for 20 years. He has been my advocate for 20 years...his daughter Bansuri had been my advocate for four years.
– Lalit Modi, Former IPL Chairman
Modi also said that Raje had accompanied his wife to Portugal for her cancer treatment two years ago. Raje became Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the second time in December 2013.
My relationship with Vasundhara Raje goes back 30 years. That relationship is known to everybody. She is a close friend of the family and my wife for a long time.
– Lalit Modi, Former IPL Chairman
Raje Named in the Row
Modi’s comments came hours after it was reported that Raje had given a “Witness Statement” in August 2011 to British authorities supporting his case for immigration in Britain – which was his base after fleeing from India.
Raje’s purported “witness statement” was made public on Tuesday evening on behalf of the Modi camp.
Controversially, the document had a confidentiality clause in which Raje purportedly supported Modi’s case but did not want it to be revealed to Indian authorities.
Raje, however, said she that was not aware of this document.
Raje Issues Denial
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Tuesday seemed to distance herself from a document purportedly showing her backing former IPL chief Lalit Modi’s immigration plea in Britain.
Of course I know the family. I have always known them... (But) I do not know what documents they are talking about.
– Vasundhara Raje, Rajasthan CM
Asked if there was a media trial against her, she said, “That is left for you to decide.
(With inputs from PTI)
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