Chennai: Former finance minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday led the charge against Centre in the l'affaire Lalit Modi. He challenged the government with seven questions even as he accused Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj of nepotism and abuse of authority in facilitating UK travel documents for the ED fugitive and former IPC chief Lalit Modi.
Addressing a press conference at his residence in Nugambakkam, Mr Chidambaram asked the government to ensure that Mr Lalit Modi is brought back to India to face the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe. The former IPL boss is facing charges under provisions of FEMA and Money Laundering Act.
Mr Chidambaram also asked the government about the steps it has taken so far to bring him back. The ED booked cases against Mr Modi in 2010 and his passport was cancelled in 2011. "I also want to know when the division bench of the High Court set aside the cancellation of Mr Lalit Modi's passport, who took the decision not to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. Was the ED, at whose instance the passport had been cancelled, consulted in the matter? Also, who took the decision to issue a fresh passport to Mr Lalit Modi", Mr Chidambaram asked, while demanding that the government makes public the notings on the file.
