Headlines
Vasundhara Raje's name now figures in Lalit Modi row
New Delhi/Jaipur, June 16
Adding a new twist to the Lalit Modi controversy, the name of Rajasthan
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje cropped up on Tuesday with allegations
that she testified in favour of the former IPL chief's British
immigration application in 2011. The Congress demanded Raje's
resignation.
The revelation apparently was made in a statement
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 Lalit Modi's immigration application on the strict clause
that her name will not be revealed to the Indian authorities.
"This
witness statement is provided on the strict understanding that its
contents and the identity of its maker are treated confidentially and
that it is used only for the purposes stated in it," says the
Confidentiality Notice dated August 18, 2011, purported to be Raje's
witness statement.
"I make this statement in support of any
immigration application that Lalit Modi makes, but do so on the strict
condition that my assistance will not become known to the Indian
authorities."
The letter was part of the documents mailed to news
channels on Monday night by a PR firm engaged by Lalit Modi's lawyer
Mehmood Abdi.
The documents are being circulated on social networks by the media.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh told NDTV news channel: "There is no option for Vasundhara Raje but to resign."
External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is caught in the midst of a controversy
for helping Modi, former IPL commissioner who is charged with financial
impropriety, with travel documents. Sushma Swaraj admitted she helped
Modi on "humanitarian grounds".
The episode has caused huge
embarrassment to the government as Modi is wanted by the Enforcement
Directorate for financial bungling in the money-spinning IPL.
He
has been living in London since 2010 after the ED issued a blue corner
notice against him, which aims to locate, identify or obtain information
on a person of interest in a criminal investigation.