Economic researcher and columnist Surjit S Bhalla questions the veracity of the allegation
The Supreme Court brushed aside the objection of BCCI which is expecting that the result might go in favour of former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, Photo: PTI/ File
New Delhi: Well-known economic researcher and columnist Surjit S Bhalla has said that ex-IPL chairman Lalit Modi was no fugitive. He also said this resolved the resignation dilemma of Vasundhara Raje and Sushma Swaraj as they both have not done anything wrong.
Writing in his column in The Indian Express, Bhalla said, "What is the evidence that Lalit Modi is a fugitive? If he is, then no question that we should stone him and all who have supported him. If not, should we stone the opinion makers?.... If Lalit Modi is not a fugitive then it is expected that friends would help him out...So was Lalit Modi a fugitive? The answer is 'no'."
He further continued with his view point, saying "The legal definition of a fugitive is 'an individual who, after committing a criminal offence, leaves the jurisdiction of the court where such crime has taken place...' Hence the two prerequisites to be a fugitive are one, being charged with committing a criminal offence an two being unlawfully at large to avoid prosecution."
Questioning if Lalit Modi was guilty of either crime, Surjit Bhalla wrote that Lalit Modi just has cases charged on him, and that mere charging of cases does not make one criminal, let alone a fugitive. "Future events might "prove" that Lalit Modi did commit these or other crimes- even if that does happen, it does not mean that either Swaraj or Raje did anything wrong, because at the time of their 'friendship' acts, Modi had not been charged with any crime," he put forth.
The controversy on Lalit Modi's visa to travel to Portugal to meet his wife who was being treated for breast cancer had generated a huge furore in India, with many top names being dragged into the controversy including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria.
The top BJP leadership, however, backed Swaraj saying she helped Modi on humanitarian grounds. Raje, on the other hand has faced criticism for her ‘family relations’ with the tainted former IPL chief. Though her state leadership defends her, reports suggest that Raje is still under the scanner from top BJP brass.
The controversy snowballed into a crisis for the Centre after Lalit Modi’s claims on Twitter of being in touch with top political leaders for his travel papers.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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