External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj found herself amidst a controversy on Sunday morning. She was accused of helping former IPL chief Lalit Modi in obtaining British travel documents.
His passport had been impounded by the British authorities upon the request of the previous UPA government after he came under the Enforcement Directorate scanner for alleged tax irregularities in 2010.
What is the Controversy?
Sushma Swaraj had spoken with British MP Keith Vaz and told him that if it was within the legal ambit of the UK and they were to provide travel documents to Lalit Modi, that would not harm the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Keith Vaz-Sarah Rapson Correspondence
According to a probe by The Sunday Times, Vaz personally wrote to Sarah Rapson, the director-general of UK visas and immigration, in an effort to expedite the case of London-based Modi, former commissioner of Indian Premier League cricket tournament.
Here’s an excerpt from that e-mail as reported by Times Now.
July 31, 2014
From: Keith Vaz
To: Sarah RapsonMr Modi’s application for a travel document was refused after I raised this with Lisa who has been very helpful. Since then his solicitors have written-in. He has again contacted his MP Greg Hands and now me as well. The Foreign Minister of India has spoken to me making it very clear that the Indian government has no objection to the travel document being granted which is contrary to what the refusal notice has stated. Mrs Swaraj has also spoken with MSir James Bewan, who even though is on leave, said he would speak to the relevant person in the Home Office. Frankly everyone has been involved in this apart from Ban ki Moon.
And as reported by the channel, here is Rapson’s response to Keith Vaz.
August 1, 2014
From: Sarah Rapson
To: Keith VazI understand from my colleagues in Travel Documents that the issue has been resolved and that the solicitors have been contacted with the good news (and indeed the document). Please do get in touch if there are any further issues.
Vaz however says that his account has been hacked into and that it is a criminal offence to hack an MP’s account.
But DNA reports that Vaz said, “There is no conflict of interest as I have no personal interest in this case and received no benefit from it. I actively encouraged people to bring to my and the committee’s attention examples of delays, inefficiencies and problems with the immigration system.”
Swaraj-Modi Familial Ties
So where does this “questionable behaviour” Sushma Swaraj stem from? Perhaps from the deep ties her family has had with Lalit Kumar Modi. Swaraj’s daughter Bansuri Kaushal is a lawyer who had worked with UU Lalit, Modi legal counsel.
Not just that, Sushma’s husband Swaraj Kaushal has also had an association with Lalit Modi and has allegedly asked his help to secure a seat for his nephew Jyotirmoy Kaushal in Sussex University. The Modi-Swaraj correspondence from 2013 was also leaked.
The e-mail quotes Swaraj Kaushal asking Lalit Modi if he can help with his nephew’s admission.
Jyotirmay will be very happy if he can get Sussex. Not many students becoz of the present Exchange rate.
– Swaraj Kaushal on August 26, 2013.
Modi in turn wrote to British MP Keith Vaz saying,
Mrs Sushma Swaraj called to see if we can do anything to help her nephew get into the law program at Sussex. Can you help with this.
Following that came the crisis which required Lalit Modi to travel and the exchange between him and Keith Vaz and Sarah Rapson took place.
After the issue was resolved, Lalit Modi had written to a host of people thanking them for their support including Swaraj Kaushal and Sushma’s daughter Bansuri Kaushal.
Sushma, however, rejected the claim regarding Kaushal’s nephew.
Sushma’s Defence
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reacted to the story in a series of tweets on Sunday morning admitting to have helped Lalit Modi procure the documents on humanitarian grounds.
Oppn Attacks Sushma, Party Backs her
While the Opposition demanded her resignation, BJP President Amit Shah and other party leaders strongly stood by her and said that there was no wrongdoing on her part.
BJP President Amit Shah in a statement said that Sushma Swaraj had clarified her stand on Twitter and that the party stands by her.
Meanwhile, Lalit Modi responded to CNN-IBN saying that he is currently watching the story unfold.
The Prime Minister as of now, seems to be reviewing the situation. While there are hints of a precedent for documents being given to people with medical emergencies, whether Sushma Swaraj will be absolved of impropriety remains a question as of now.
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